BJP predicts frequent transfers in Delhi after top court verdict

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said administrative officers in the city will now be picked subjectively

New Delhi: Reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict affirming the elected government’s control of services in the Capital, spokespersons of the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the party respects the court’s order, but added that it may lead to “officers feeling pressured” and frequent transfers in the Capital’s bureaucracy. The Delhi Congress welcomed the judgment and said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-ruled Delhi government should now focus on effective governance.

The apex court, in its verdict on Thursday, said that the Delhi lieutenant governor is bound by the elected government’s advice in all matters except public order, police, and land. (PTI)

The apex court, in its verdict on Thursday, said that the Delhi lieutenant governor (LG) is bound by the elected government’s advice in all matters except public order, police, and land.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said administrative officers in the city will now be picked subjectively.

“Kejriwal has himself said that now there will be mass transfers. This will lead to a new transfer posting industry in Delhi and the officer will not be selected based on their competence or quality of work but their liking and disliking,” Sachdeva said.

In an apparent reference to an incident from February 2018, when then chief secretary Anshu Prakash alleged that he was assaulted at the chief minister’s residence, Sachdeva said that there is “an increased possibility the AAP will harass and demean senior officers”.

Sachdeva also said that it is important to be mindful of the entire SC verdict, that the three subjects – law and order, police, and land – are still with the central government. “These are areas to which problems faced by the public are directly linked. So far, the CM deflected blame but now the SC has allowed him to post officers. He still cannot touch these three subjects,” Sachdeva said.

The Delhi BJP said that the party will continue to “press the AAP government on corruption-related matters”, in an apparent reference to the recent allegations about irregularities in the expenditure incurred while renovating the CM’s house.

Meanwhile, Delhi Congress welcomed the court’s verdict and said that there will no longer be room for the AAP government to deflect the responsibility and the CM should focus on effective governance instead of indulging in blame games.

Delhi Congress chief Anil Kumar said that the BJP should no longer impose “its autocratic ways on the elected Delhi government through the LG to put roadblocks in the development of Delhi”.

Kumar said that Delhi’s governance suffered and the state’s development has been stalled due to the shadowboxing and blame games between the LG and the AAP government. “The apex court has made it clear that the elected government has the powers for transfer and posting of officials. It (the government) should concentrate on good governance instead of petty politics,” he added.

Earlier, reacting to the verdict, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that he was thankful to the SC “for providing justice to the people of Delhi”.

“This decision will lead to a jump on the progress of Delhi and democracy has won,” Kejriwal tweeted.

In a press conference, he said that the SC order was historic. “Injustice was being carried out with people of Delhi over the last eight years. On May 23, 2015, the central government passed an order stating that the Delhi service matters will not be with the CM and LG-central government will control the bureaucracy. I could not even suspend someone if they were caught taking a bribe,” Kejriwal said.

He added that a big administrative reshuffle is in the pipeline in the Delhi government, adding that some officers who obstructed the work of the people of Delhi will have to suffer for their deeds.