'Is There No Other Capable Officer': AAP Questions Centre After Delhi Chief Secretary Gets Tenure Extension

The AAP MP asked the BJP if the party doesn't consider any other officer capable for the post of Chief Secretary.

File photo of AAP's Senior leader Raghav Chadha

Source : PTI

New Delhi: After the Supreme Court upheld the Centre’s proposal to give a six-month extension to Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, AAP's Senior leader Raghav Chadha on Friday lashed out at the BJP, saying the saffron party has appointed an officer as Chief Secretary who has many allegations against him.

Chadha asked the BJP if the party doesn't consider any other officer capable for the post of Chief Secretary.

 "There is a role of the central government in the appointment of the Chief Secretary in Delhi... So the BJP appointed an officer as Chief Secretary who has many allegations and is surrounded by many controversies," Chadha said.

"Why is the BJP interested in only one officer?... Does the BJP not consider any other officer capable for Chief Secretary?.. What is so special that only one officer alone can do it?" the AAP MP asked.

#WATCH | Rajya Sabha MP and AAP leader Raghav Chadha says, "...There is a role of the central government in the appointment of the Chief Secretary in Delhi... So the BJP appointed an officer as Chief Secretary who has many allegations and is surrounded by many controversies...… pic.twitter.com/0RYkRgKRa4

— ANI (@ANI) December 1, 2023

This comes after the Supreme Court on Wednesday permitted the Centre to extend the tenure of Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, a day before he was set to demit office on November 30, for six months.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra held, prima facie, the Centre has the power to appoint and extend the tenure of the chief secretary of the national capital territory of Delhi as the officer deals with the entire administration including police, public order and land, which fall beyond the legislative and executive powers of the Delhi government. 

Significantly, the current chief secretary, whose tenure will now be extended, is reportedly not on good terms with the Delhi government owing to allegations against his son in a case related to acquisition of 19 acres by the National Highways Authority of India in 2018 for construction of the Dwarka Expressway, reported PTI.