MHA may initiate action against Kejriwal’s ‘home secretary’

In a move that may further aggravate the already stormy relations between the Centre and the Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal, the Union Home Ministry is planning to start disciplinary action against the CM’s principal secretary and 1989 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rajender Kumar for defying the ministry’s orders.

In a move that may further aggravate the already stormy relations between the Centre and the Delhi government led by Arvind Kejriwal, the Union Home Ministry is planning to start disciplinary action against the CM’s principal secretary and 1989 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Rajender Kumar for defying the ministry’s orders.

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“The ministry may soon initiate disciplinary proceedings against Rajender Kumar by issuing him a showcause notice,” said a home ministry official requesting anonymity.

The official added that Kumar allegedly disobeyed the home ministry order and failed to relieve the post of Delhi’s home secretary which he took over on the order of the Kejriwal government.

Kumar was appointed by the Delhi Government after it removed the incumbent home secretary Dharam Pal but lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung revoked the decision asserting that the powers to transfer AGMUT cadre officers rests only with the Centre.

Following the LG’s order, the city government now has two home secretaries leading to a chaotic situation.

The home ministry instructed Kumar to relinquish the post as the city government did not have powers to appoint him.

For the last two months, the Arvind Kejriwal government and the Centre are involved in a bitter feud over powers to appoint bureaucrats in the city government with the matter reaching the Supreme Court.