Kejriwal criticises LG for removing top health officer

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday criticised Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung for removing Director General of Health Services (DGHS) from his post, and dubbed it "dirty politics".

"This is quite sad. All efficient and honest officers are being marked and removed systematically. Dirty politics," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor`s remarks came a day after Jung stripped senior officer Tarun Seem of his charge as the DGHS.

Seem, who is said to be close to Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, was piloting the AAP government`s ambitious "Mohalla Clinic" project. He was relieved of his "temporary" charge on Friday.

"Dr Tarun Seem, presently looking after the charge of Director General of Health Services on temporary basis, is relieved of his charge as DGHS with immediate effect," said an order issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare.

According to sources, Seem`s removal was due to a delay in publishing educational material meant for creating awareness about vector-borne diseases, a charge vehemently denied by him on Saturday.

Seem, a 1992-batch IRS officer, took over as the DGHS in October last year. He was behind the success of the Delhi government`s ambitious "Mohalla Clinic" project.

In August, Seem was transferred by the Lt. Governor from the post of Delhi Health Secretary.

Jung`s office had said that his posting was illegal because cadre posts cannot be held by non-cadre officers for more than three months.

Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia had slammed Jung and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying: "Modiji is hell bent on destroying Delhi through LG."