New Delhi: The Delhi government has once again asked the Centre to depute Sanjiv Chaturvedi, who was removed as Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of AIIMS around four months back, as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the office of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Chaturvedi, an Indian Forest Service (IFS) Officer, is currently deputy secretary of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
Sources said that Delhi government is planning to make Chaturvedi the head of its Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB).
Kejriwal had on February 16 written to Union Environment and Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar seeking services of Chaturvedi as an OSD in his office.
Rajendra Kumar, secretary to Chief Minister Kejriwal, has now written to Ashok Lavasa, secretary in Union Environment and Forest Ministry, to relieve Chaturvedi at the earliest.
"CM Kejriwal had written to Union Environment and Forest Minister requesting services of Chaturvedi to work as OSD in his office. However, no response has been received in the matter," Kumar said in his letter written on February 28.
He also said that it is understood that government of Haryana has already given cadre clearance and consent of deputation of Sanjiv Chaturvedi up to June, 2016, adding that the Union Health Minister had himself sought the reversion of his services from the present posting in June 2014.
"In view of these facts, there does not appear to be any impediment in relieving Chaturvedi on the request of Delhi Government. This is more so in the light of assurance of the Central government to extend all possible cooperation to government of NCT of Delhi," Kumar said.
The secretary to Delhi Chief Minister also said, "I request you (Lavasa) to kindly look into the matter personally and get the officer (Chaturvedi) relieved at the earliest."
In August last year, the Health Ministry had removed Chaturvedi as CVO of AIIMS and thereafter, the then Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said he was "not eligible" for the post.
JP Nadda, BJP general secretary and now the Union Health Minister, had earlier written to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) last year objecting to Chaturvedi's appointment as both deputy secretary and CVO of AIIMS.
After his removal, AAP had come out in support of the officer and alleged "victimisation of an honest officer at the behest of BJP members".
AAP had also demanded Vardhan's resignation over Chaturvedi's removal.
