The Centre and West Bengal Government seemed to be heading on a collision course over the transfer order of state’s Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that her government will not release Bandyopadhyay for Central duty. She termed the order as “unilateral”.
Urging the Prime Minister to “withdraw, recall and reconsider” the decision, Mamata said that the Chief Secretary’s transfer order was issued by the Centre without any prior consultation with the state government and was in violation of “applicable laws and against public interest”.
“The Government of West Bengal cannot release and is not releasing its Chief Secretary at this critical hour, on the basis of our understanding that the earlier order of extension, issued after lawful consultation in accordance with applicable laws, remains operational and valid,” stated Mamata.
She reminded the Prime Minister that upon request from the state government, the Centre had given extension Bandyopadhyay for three months to continue as the Chief Secretary in view of the pandemic and after four days abruptly issued his transfer order. Prior to the extension, Bandyopadhyay was scheduled to retire on May 31, 2021.
The Chief Minister said that the Centre’s order was “wholly unconstitutional” and in violation of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules.
She further alleged that with such “unilateral and non-consultative order”, the federal system was “gravely endangered and severely undermined”. She asked if a Chief Secretary of the state can be transferred like this then how will the lower bureaucracy “take, obey and implement” orders from the Chief Minister, other Ministers and officers.
The Chief Minister also said that the Centre’s order does not mention any reason as to why Bandyopadhyay was suddenly required for Central duty within days after his extension was approved by the Centre.
Wondering whether the Centre’s order has anything to do with her meeting with the Prime Minister at Kalaikunda on May 28, 2021, the Chief Minister said that even as she reached the venue to meet him despite having prior engagements, the Prime Minister revised the structure of the meeting including a local MLA from his party. She was referring to BJP MLA from Nandigram and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari.
The Chief Minister said, “An individual MLA, having no locus, attending the meeting was unacceptable.”
Speaking to reporters later in the day, she said that she could not divulge any further information regarding the issue.
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