INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: LG V K Saxena on Monday okayed a proposal to terminate nearly 400 private persons who were engaged as "specialists" in various
departments, corporations, boards, societies and PSUs of the Delhi government.Moving the proposal, the government's services department said
the elected dispensation had hired fellows, associate fellows, advisors, deputy advisors, specialists, senior research officers and
consultants in a "non-transparent" manner and without obtaining the mandatory approval of the competent authority.The AAP government,
however, said the LG did not have the "power" to terminate these professionals and was "acting illegally and against the Constitution"
"This unconstitutional decision will be challenged in a court of law," the government said in a statement.'No showcause notice given before
sacking of specialists' Reacting to the sacking of nearly 400 "specialists", the AAP government said that the LG was finding new ways every
day to "paralyse Delhi government" so that the people of the capital suffer."He is punishing these 400 talented young professionals only
because they chose to associate with the Delhi government
No principles of natural justice were followed when the LG took this decision
Not even a single showcause notice was issued, and no explanation or clarification was sought at any stage," the statement read."These
fellows were from top colleges and universities such as IIM Ahmedabad, Delhi School of Economics, NALSAR, JNU, NIT, London School of
Economics, Cambridge etc and were doing excellent work in various departments
They were all hired following due process and administrative norms," it added.The services department in its note to the LG said that the
government had failed to observe the reservation norms for scheduled caste, scheduled tribe and other backward classes as prescribed by the
central government's department of personnel and training while engaging these professionals
It further stated that many of the selected candidates did not meet the educational and work experience criteria as laid down in the
advertisements issued for the posts."The administrative departments concerned did not even verify the veracity of work experience
certificates submitted by these private persons, which were found to be fudged and manipulated in many cases," said an official.Accepting
the proposal of the services department, the LG noted that all Delhi government departments, corporations, boards, societies and other
autonomous bodies under their administrative control should immediately terminate the engagement of those private persons wherein the
competent authority's (LG's) approval had not been obtained."If any administrative department finds it appropriate to continue such
engagements, it may propose the detailed cases with proper justification and forward them to the services department for onward submission
to the LG for consideration and approval," said an official.The LG also noted that appropriate action "as may deem fit including
departmental proceedings" would be initiated against the concerned administrative secretary if the directions were not complied
with.According to officials, the scrutiny of records by the services department revealed that 69 persons were engaged by five government
departments - archaeology, environment and forest, Delhi Archives, women and child development and industries - without approval
Similarly, 13 boards and autonomous bodies did not take the necessary approval while engaging 155 persons.They added that Delhi Assembly
Research Centre, Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi and the department of planning failed to furnish the information on whether
the approval of the competent authority had been taken while engaging 187 private persons, to the services department."However, 11 persons
engaged in four departments - health and family welfare, food safety, transport and Indira Gandhi Hospital - had the approval of the
The cabinet note pertaining to the Chief Minister Urban Leader Fellowship Programme, whereby 50 fellows and associate fellows had been
engaged, was also approved in 2018 and 2021 by the competent authority," said an official.02:06Atishi Marlena gets additional charge of
finance and revenue departments
