Government ‘revokes’ Lieutenant-Governor order on DERC chief

The ongoing war between lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal over administrative control of the city government reached a new low with Raj Niwas replacing Indian Revenue Service officer Sukesh Jain as the power secretary and the AAP government revoking L-G’s directive to scrap the appointment of former IRS officer Krishna Saini as the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission chairperson.

It is learnt that a 1995 batch IAS officer of AGMUT cadre, Varsha Joshi, has been appointed as the new power secretary of Delhi. She has replaced Mr Jain, a 1992 batch IRS officer. While secretary (environment) Chandrakar Bharti was also transferred, but his transfer order was withdrawn by late on Friday evening. “The lieutenant-governor, Delhi is pleased to post Varsha Joshi, IAS, (AGMUT) 1995 as secretary (power) with additional charge of secretary (environment & forest) with immediate effect relieving Sukesh Kumar Jain and Chandrakar Bharti, IAS, 1996 batch from the additional charge,” an order to this effect issued by T. Sreekanth, special secretary (services) said. The copy of the order was also forwarded to the Union home ministry and Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

Mr Joshi took the new charge on Saturday. She was earlier posted at central deputation and was serving as joint secretary in the ministry of new & renewable energy, Government of India. Mr Jain, who is considered close to Mr Kejriwal, will continue to serve as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Delhi CM.

According to sources, the transfer order was issued after principal secretary (Power) Janak Digal reportedly complained to Raj Niwas that he wanted to discuss the issue pertaining to the DERC but secretary (power) did not respond properly. There is resentment in a section of bureaucrats who feel non-cadre officers were filling up their posts. Mr Jain was appointed secretary (power) last year. Mr Jung had scrapped Mr Saini’s appointment as the DERC chairperson in September.