Kejriwal rejects names proposed by Centre

Ananya Panda

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 1

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked the Central Government to reconsider the appointment of 1984-batch IAS officer Ramesh Negi as the next Chief Secretary of Delhi.

In a letter to the Home Ministry, Kejriwal has rejected the panel of officers suggested by the central government and proposed the name of Goa Chief Secretary KK Sharma as an alternative to Negi for the post. The Home Ministry had suggested a panel of officers eligible for the job of the Chief Secretary and was reluctant on having Negi, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Delhi Jal Board and currently posted as Chief Secretary of Arunachal Pradesh.

Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia had met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday seeking his intervention in the appointment of Negi as Delhi Chief Secretary.

The Home Ministry went out of the way in considering Kejriwal’s request and allowed the AAP government to recommend an officer for the post.

Sources said there were several officers from the UT-cadre senior to Negi and are the obvious choice for the top post as per service rules. Among them the senior-most being 1979 batch Anand Prakash, who is currently serving as Andaman & Nicobar Chief Secretary, followed by 1980 batch – Naini Jayaseelan on central deputation, and SK Srivastava, presently serving as Financial Commissioner in the Delhi Government.

Also, 1981-batch Vijay S Madan, currently on central deputation, and Nutan Guha Biswas, 1983-batch officer appointed as Principal Secretary to Delhi LG Najeeb Jung are two other officers who are senior to the former DJB CEO.