Sisodia asks LG not to replace PWD, health chiefs

Fearing the overturning of its decisions, the AAP government on Friday urged the Lieutenant Governor not to shift out two of its handpicked officials heading the PWD and Health departments.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told reporters on Friday that for the first time the AAP government had gone against the convention and posted a senior engineer to head the Public Works Department and a doctor to head the Health Department.

“We request the LG not to shift them as it would impact the progress on projects for building new classrooms and mohalla clinic,” said Sisodia, conceding that the power to decide postings entirely with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

Vowing to complete the people-oriented projects launched by the Arvind Kejriwal government, Sisodia said for serving the people the AAP government would fight with other authorities and even request them, if needed. 

“We still have to build 4,000 new classrooms and achieve the target of building 1,000 Mohalla Clinics, so we are requesting the LG not to disturb the heads of the PWD and Health departments,” said Sisodia.

Sisodia claimed the AAP government’s minister have no powers to even appoint a peon. “Even the court order said that the services matters and posting, including that of IAS and DANICS, will be handled now by the LG,” he said.

The LG has given the power to appoint all staff to the officials but IAS and DANICS posts would still be filled by him, he said. Sources in the government said the posts of PWD secretary and Health Secretary are cadre posts and always occupied by IAS officers.

“This discrepancy introduced by the AAP government may now be rectified by the LG,” said an official. Jung on Tuesday told Sisodia that all services matters, including transfers/postings of IAS/DANICS officers, with the recommendations of Civil Services Board in case of IAS officers, will be placed through Chief Secretary directly before the LG.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay has condemned Sisodia’s “misleading” statement that now the government has no power even to transfer a peon.

Upadhyay said that after the verdict of the Delhi High Court, the LG has clarified that he will look into the transfer only of high level officers and the power of transfer of the lower level officers will be under the Kejriwal government.

He also said that it is true that the Kejriwal government appointed ineligible officers to the posts of Health Secretary and PWD Secretary disregarding the government rules and now all these statement are being issued to save both of these officers.