‘Officers who don’t comply will face contempt charge’

New Delhi: Tension between Delhi government and bureaucrats continued to brew on Thursday with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership saying it is likely to move a contempt petition against those who had refused to comply with its directive on transfers and postings.

The chief minister also warned officers of “serious consequences” if they did not obey the apex court's order.

Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal  in a letter to L-G Anil Baijal said, “I wish to bring to your kind notice two specific issues adjudged by Hon’ble  Supreme Court — LG’s ‘concurrence’ would not be required on any matter and exclusive powers related to ‘Services’ lies with Council of Ministers.”

Hours after the Supreme Court judgment on Wednesday, the Delhi government had introduced a new system for transfer and postings of bureaucrats, making chief minister Arvind Kejriwal the approving authority. However, the Services Department refused to comply, saying the Supreme Court did not abolish the notification issued in 2016, which made the ministry of home affairs the authority for transfers and postings.

The chief minister and his deputy Manish Sisodia appealed to officials and the Centre to abide by the judgement of the apex court and get down to work for development of the city. 

“The chief secretary has written to me saying the Services Department will not follow the orders. If they are not going to abide by it and the transfer files will still be seen by the L-G, then it will amount to contempt,” Mr Sisodia told reporters. “We are consulting our lawyers about what can be done in the situation,” he said, adding that the Supreme Court had clearly stated that the L-G has the power to interfere only in three subjects.

Mr Kejriwal’s letter to L-G mentioned the refusal of the chief secretary to follow the government’s new order on postings.

“I beleive that would be wrong course of action,” the letter said. The Supreme Court has in “clear terms” stated the powers of the Delhi government, the central government and the LG, the chief minister told reporters on Thursday.

The apex court’s verdict had said that the LG has no “independent decision-making  power” and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.