Delhi Minister Made To Wait Since CS’s Busy Schedule All Day

Delhi Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj was made to wait for a key meeting of Civil Services Board (CSB) till 9.30 pm on Tuesday, but it could not take place since Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar was busy throughout the day, NDTV report 

It said the meeting to consider the recent directions of the Delhi government, was delayed yesterday because of the Chief Secretary's "busy schedule".

The report said Delhi Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj was the first meeting of the board after the landmark Supreme Court verdict that ruled in favour of the AAP government in a tussle with the Centre over the control and posting of bureaucrats in Delhi.

It said the board, chaired by the Chief Secretary, deals with matters related to the transfer of IAS officers under the Delhi government.

“Two other members of the board, Delhi government sources say, also waited for the meeting along with Bharadwaj till late evening,” it said.

The Supreme Court last Thursday ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over administration of services and only "public order, police and land" are excluded from its jurisdiction, it mentioned.

“In a democratic form of governance, the power of administration must rest on the elected arm and the Lieutenant Governor is bound by its decision, said the bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud,” the report mentioned.

Just hours after the verdict, IAS officer Ashish More was removed as the secretary of the services department, it mentioned.

Bharadwaj said More, after being asked to make way for his replacement on Thursday, "unexpectedly left the Secretariat" and switched off his phone, it said.

He was issued a show cause notice for not “complying with the Supreme Court order”, it said.