'Stop publicly humiliating us': Delhi bureaucrats condemn 'politicisation' of appointments

New Delhi: Caught in the crossfire between AAP government and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, top bureaucrats in the Delhi government on Wednesday strongly condemned “politicisation” of appointments of senior officials and urged both sides to create a conducive atmosphere so that they can discharge their duties freely.

Over 100 serving and retired IAS officials of the AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram-Union Territories) cadre held a nearly two-hour-long meeting in which they expressed “anguish” over the way senior officials are being treated.

A number of officials said they were upset with the AAP government as there were attempts to “publicly humiliate” senior bureaucrats.

“We view with great anguish the way IAS officers have been treated, publicly humiliated and subjected to character assassination. We condemn it. We urge the Lt Governor and the Chief Minister to create a conducive atmosphere where officers can function in a free and impartial manner,” a resolution passed at the meeting said.

Acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin, Rajendra Kumar, Secretary to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and senior bureaucrats from LG’s office were present in the meeting. Around 60 serving and nearly 40 retired IAS officials attended the meeting.

Earlier, at a meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, senior bureaucrats wondered whose orders they should follow.

At the nearly three-hour-long meeting, a number of bureaucrats talked about the difficulties being faced by them due to the ongoing confrontation.

Kejriwal, who attended the meeting briefly, asked the officials to work according to provisions of the Constitution and without any fear or apprehension.

A number of officials spoke about their “confusion” as the relationship between AAP government and LG deteriorated further in the past few days. They said it was important to maintain a working relationship between the two sides.

Sources said Sisodia assured the bureaucrats that a detailed guideline will be issued soon on dealing with various issues, particularly those where LG’s office has a role to play.

The meeting called by the AAP government to have a “correct and coherent understanding of the constitutional provisions and other norms in handing administrative affairs”.

In a directive on Monday, Kejriwal had asked the bureaucrats including the Chief Secretary to first consult with him and other ministers about any communication from the LG before acting on such directions.

In the meeting, Sisodia asked the bureaucrats not to “blindly” follow Jung’s orders. A senior official said there was a healthy exchange of views in the meeting.

PTI