After a month-long impasse over the choice of officers, Delhi Government’s Principal Secretary (Finance) S.N. Sahai, who played an important role in preparing the Budget presented recently, was on Wednesday appointed the new Home Secretary. His appointment follows a reported consensus between the Delhi Government and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Two Home Secretaries, one appointed by the Aam Aadmi Party Government and another by the Lieutenant-Governor, have been functioning separately at the Delhi Secretariat amid the rift between the top two constitutional functionaries of the Capital.
Senior IAS officer Dharam Pal was brought in as the Home Secretary following the L-G’s orders.
However, the Delhi Government transferred him after he signed a notification appointing M.K. Meena as the Anti-Corruption Branch chief. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Secretary Rajendra Kumar was then given the additional charge of Home Secretary. Though the Home Ministry had cancelled the Delhi Government’s transfer order of Mr. Dharam Pal, Mr. Kumar too refused to vacate the post.
The stalemate led to a situation where two Home Secretaries were functioning in the Capital. According to official sources, the orders appointing Mr. Sahai, a Union Territory cadre IAS officer of 1986 batch, were issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. While the transfer orders of Mr. Dharam Pal were still awaited, he has now opted for a Central deputation.
Mr. Kumar has been functioning as Home Secretary despite the Home Ministry’s directive that Mr. Dharam Pal should be allowed to function without hindrance.
Mr. Sahai’s appointment, finalised after the Delhi Government suggested three names, has resolved the situation and is likely to ensure smooth functioning of the Home Department.
The orders appointing him were issued by
the Union Ministry
of Home Affairs
