New Delhi, Dec 31 (IANS): The Union Home Ministry on Thursday declared null and void the suspension of two officers belonging to the 'DANICS' cadre by the Delhi Government.
This comes as at least 200 senior bureaucrats of Delhi Government went on a day's leave of absence on Thursday as a sign of protest against the suspension of the two officials. The decision to go on a mass leave was taken by the members of the DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) Officers' Association.
Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party government had suspended Subhash Chandra, special secretary (prisons), and Yashpal Garg, special secretary (prosecution), for allegedly refusing to sign a file pertaining to a Cabinet decision to increase the salary of public prosecutors.
Meanwhile, Delhi's Home Minister Satyendra Jain said the strike would not make any difference to the functioning of the government.
"There are lakhs of people working in Delhi government. If some people go on leave, it will not make any difference," Jain said.
"The suspension was an administration matter, a Cabinet decision was failed to be implemented," he said.
He also criticised Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for "directing" officials not to work. "Officers can't tell me 'L-G has asked us not to work'. The L-G should have passed a written order," Jain said.
"L-G has power to stay some orders, but a blanket order saying no order of Delhi Government is to be seen through, won't be followed," he said.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Satish Upadhyay also condemned the suspension of the two officers, saying it was harassing officials and demanded Jain's resignation. "The suspension of two special secretaries is completely a wrong administrative decision. BJP strongly opposes such harassment of officials and demands Jain's resignation," he said.
He alleged the State Home Minister was pressurising officials under his ministry to sign a file pertaining to the revision of pay scale of its standing counsel Rahul Mehra.
"When the officers refused to sign the file regarding the unconstitutional hike in pay and allowances, Jain not only insulted the officers but also suspended them," he said.
