PK Gupta To Be New Chief Secretary Of Delhi? Kejriwal Govt Seeks Centre's Nod

Arvind Kejriwal-led government sent the name of PK Gupta as the new Chief Secretary of Delhi to the Centre days after it was given executive power in services matters.

New Delhi: The Arvind Kejriwal-led government on Thursday sent the name of PK Gupta to the Center to appoint him as the new Chief Secretary of Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government sent a proposal to the Center through Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena to appoint Gupta as the new Chief Secretary of Delhi.

Gupta, a 1989 batch IAS officer, is currently serving as additional chief secretary at the General Administration Department (GAD) of the Delhi government. Presently, Naresh Kumar is the Chief Secretary of Delhi.

The move comes days after the Delhi government was given executive power in services matters, including transfer and posting of officers, in a crucial verdict by the Supreme Court.

On May, 11, the Supreme Court said that the division of administrative powers between the Union and Delhi governments "must be respected" and held that the Delhi government has "legislative and executive power over services" in the national capital, including the bureaucrats, except those relating to public order, police and land.

A five-judge Constitution bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices MR Shah, Justice Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha said, "The division of administrative powers between the Union and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD) as explained... must be respected."

The apex court in its 105-page-judgement said that the government of Delhi is not similar to other Union Territories.

The verdict of the apex court came on the tussle between Delhi and the central government on the contentious issue of who should control administrative services in Delhi over the transfers and postings of officers in the national capital.