Home Ministry objects to AAP government's warning to Chief Secretary KK Sharma

NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry has taken strong objection to Delhi government "warning" Chief Secretary K K Sharma of disciplinary action if he violate its standing order, saying the AAP dispensation does not have powers to take such action.

Over a month ago, the AAP government had issued a "warning" to the Chief Secretary for objecting to the functioning of Rajendra Kumar as Home Secretary, who was appointed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

In its letter to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, the Home Ministry said the Chief Secretary Sharma acted following its direction and that he was not involved in any misconduct.

The AAP government in June had removed Dharampal as Home Secretary and appointed Kumar to the post. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung had rejected the order removing Pal. Both Kumar and Pal were functioning as home secretaries till senior IAS officer S N Sahai was appointed to the post on July 9.

In June, Sharma had directed Kumar that he should not continue as Home Secretary as Home Ministry had not endorsed his appointment. Following this, the AAP government had warned the Chief Secretary of disciplinary action, saying he must follow standing orders of the government.

"This (Delhi government) is not authority of law. There is no reason for sending warning to chief secretary K K Sharma as he acted following MHA's direction. Chief secretary was not involved in misconduct," a source said quoting the letter by the Home Ministry to Sisodia.

It said issuance of "memo" to Sharma was not "proper".

The memo was issued after Sharma in June had directed Kumar to comply with the orders of Home Ministry regarding his functioning as Home Secretary and send a compliance report. Sharma had also given specific instructions to Kumar not to create any hindrance for Pal in discharging his duties.

Sharma, in his note to Kumar, had said the order divesting Pal of the charges of Home Secretary has been issued without the approval of the competent authority and was in contravention of the Home Ministry's recent notification.

"You, are hereby specifically directed to comply with the aforesaid orders and ensure that Dharam Pal, IAS continues to function as Home Secretary and Principal Secretary (Land and Building) without any disruption. A note of compliance of these directions should be sent to me forthwith," Sharma had said in his note to Kumar.