A week after the Supreme Court handed over the control of services in Delhi to the elected government, excluding those related to police, public order and land, the Center on Friday promulgated an ordinance to create a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary Proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre, reported by PTI.
The ordinance said that “there shall be an authority to be known as the National Capital Civil Service Authority to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the functions assigned to it.” The authority will comprise the chief minister of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi as its chairperson, along with the chief secretary and the principal home secretary, who will be the member secretary to the authority, it said.
“All matters required to be decided by the authority shall be decided by majority of votes of the members present and voting. All recommendations of the authority shall be authenticated by the member secretary,” the ordinance said.
The National Capital Civil Service Authority will meet at a time and place as the member secretary decides with the approval of the chairperson of the authority, as and when required, it said.
“The central government, in consultation with the authority, shall determine the nature and the categories of officers and other employees required to assist the authority in the discharge of its functions and provide the authority with such officers and employees, as it may deem fit… ”
“Notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force, the National Capital Civil Service Authority shall have the responsibility to recommend the transfers and postings of all the Group ‘A’ officers and officers of DANICS serving in the affairs of the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi but not officers serving in connection with any subject matter,” it read.
Meanwhile, the AAP on Saturday called the Centre’s move “unconstitutional”. Addressing a press conference, Delhi minister Atishi said the Center deliberately chose to bring the ordinance at a time when the Supreme Court has closed for summer vacation.
Atishi said the Centre’s ordinance shows that “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scared of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal” and the power of honest politics. “They are afraid that if he (Kejriwal) gets power, he will do extraordinary work for Delhi. The ordinance is an attempt to snatch the power given to the AAP dispensation by the apex court on May 11,” she said.