NEW DELHI, Aug 14 (PTI): Health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday said thousands of vacant
posts in the Delhi government will be filled if the Arvind Kejriwal dispensation gets control over services
matter.
The minister said that such recruitments will speed up work at various departments of the government.
Inaugurating a bridge in Janakpuri, Bharadwaj hoped that the elected government in Delhi will get back
control over services matter through the Supreme Court.
The Centre on Saturday notified the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act,
2023, that brings services matter in Delhi government, including transfer and postings of officers, under
its domain.
The health minister said the Arvind Kejriwal government wants to recruit new doctors and engineers but
it has no power to do it.
The power to appoint new doctors and engineers is not in the hands of the elected government. The
government wants to appoint new doctors but their appointment is in the hands of the lieutenant
governor since 2015, he said.
“If this power comes in the hands of elected government, thousands of vacant posts will be filled. This
will also speed up work that has slowed down due to lack of staff at various departments,” he said.
Bharadwaj said he was told by officers that they cannot remove officials caught in wrongdoing because
they are the only ones available due to shortage of staff.
The minister said that the Supreme Court on two occasions, in 2018 and 2023, gave its verdict that
powers related to services matter lied with the elected government in Delhi but the Centre did not
accept it.
The Supreme Court on May 11 gave control over services matter to the elected government in Delhi.
However, a week later, the Centre through an ordinance created a three-member National Capital Civil
Services Authority (NCCSA) headed by the Delhi chief minister.
The newly created authority comprising the chief secretary and the home secretary of the Delhi
government as its two other members, ensured that the services matter remained in control of the
Centre that made appointments of the two officers.
The Delhi government challenged the ordinance in the Supreme Court that has referred the matter to a
five-judge Constitution Bench. The court has yet to come out with its verdict.
Meanwhile, the Centre brought a bill that was passed by Parliament and has now become the GNCTD
(Amendment) Act, 2023, after consent of the President and its notification by the Centre.
Bharadwaj hoped that the Arvind Kejriwal government will get back the power over services matter
through the court and appealed to people to extend their blessings to it.
