Delhi: In Fresh Tussle, L-G Saxena Sacks 400 'Specialists' Appointed By Kejriwal Govt

The appointments also did not adhere to the Department of Personnel and Training's obligatory reservation policy for SC, ST, and OBC candidates, according to LG's office.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal (left), and Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena (right).

Source : PTI

Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena has terminated the employment of over 400'specialists' recruited by the AAP administration in various ministries, according to officials, a decision that might spark a new round of conflict between the ruling party and the LG, news agency PTI reported. They were engaged in a "non-transparent manner" and without the required authorization of the responsible authorities, according to the LG office, which also claimed various anomalies in the recruiting procedure.

The appointments also did not adhere to the Department of Personnel and Training's obligatory reservation policy for SC, ST, and OBC candidates, according to LG's office.

However, no immediate response was available from the Delhi government, PTI reported.

"Delhi LG, VK Saxena has agreed to the proposal of the Services department to immediately terminate the services of about 400 private persons engaged as Fellows/Associate Fellows/Advisors / Dy Advisors/Specialists/Senior Research Officers/Consultants, etc by Delhi government in its various departments and agencies," the LG office statement was quoted by PTI in its report.

The Services department discovered that some of the hired private individuals did not even meet the educational and employment eligibility conditions outlined in the job adverts, it added.

According to the statement, the administrative departments involved "did not verify" the integrity of work experience certificates presented by these private individuals, which were discovered to be "fudged and manipulated" in many cases.

The LG accepted the Services department's proposal that all Delhi government departments, Corporations, Boards, Societies, and other autonomous bodies immediately terminate their engagement of these private persons, which was done without seeking approval from the Lt Governor, who is the competent authority in the matter, according to the statement.

If any administrative department believes it is acceptable to maintain such interactions, it may present detailed cases with adequate rationale and transmit them to the Services Department for evaluation and approval by the LG, it stated.

The Services department discovered that various departments, including Environment, Archaeology, Delhi Archives, Women and Child Development, and Industries, did not acquire consent from the responsible authorities before contracting private individuals, according to the report.

The Services department collated data from the Delhi government's 23 departments and organisations that hired private individuals as "specialists."

During the Services department's investigation, it was discovered that 69 people were working in five departments: Archaeology, Environment, Delhi Archives, Women and Child Development, and Industries without the authorisation of the relevant authorities.

Also, 13 Boards, autonomous bodies that employed 155 people, did not obtain the necessary approval, and no information was provided to the Services department about the engagements of 187 people in the Delhi Assembly Research Centre (DARC), Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD), and Department of Planning, according to the statement.

With the Lieutenant Governor's assent, eleven people were assigned to four departments: Health and Family Welfare, Food Safety, Indira Gandhi Hospital, and Transport.

Saxena further stated that the Cabinet note related to the Chief Minister Urban Leader Fellowship Programme, in which 36 fellows and 14 associate fellows were employed, was authorised by the competent authorities between 2018 and 2021.

The Lieutenant Governor instructed that all parties involved follow the Services department's directions, failing which action, including departmental procedures, may be taken against the administrative secretary in question, according to the statement.