Don’t act without nod from minister, babus told

In yet another standoff, two Delhi government ministers have written letters to Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal against bureaucrats’ alleged insubordination. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Satyendar Jain, in separate letters, have also directed the bureaucrats to not take any decision without the approval of the minister-in-charge.

“In the last few months, there have been several instances when matters of urgent and great public importance were dealt with behind the back of the elected government. The files were dealt with in secret by some bureaucrats, keeping their minister and the CM in dark,” the ministers said in their letters.

According to sources, in one such latest case, over 5 lakh students were affected due to some miscommunication regarding scholarships between the Delhi government and the bureaucrats. Senior government officials claimed the files were not brought to the notice of the CM or the respective minister.

“If the matter had been brought to the notice of the CM or the minister, this mess could have been avoided,” the letter stated.

The bureaucrats have also been directed to follow the orders of their respective superiors. “The views of the department on any issue shall not be communicated without the approval of the minister-in-charge,” …read more