Armed with HC order, AAP appoints Majumdar as CMD of Delhi Finance Corporation

New Delhi, May 27

Armed with a Delhi High Court order over its jurisdiction, the AAP government today appointed senior IAS officer Anindo Majumdar as the CMD of Delhi Finance Corporation, days after he was removed from the post of Principal Secretary of the Services Department.

The AAP dispensation also appointed IAS officer Parimal Rai as Principal Secretary of Social Welfare and Women and Child Development Department.

Majumdar was removed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as Principal Secretary of the Services Department on May 16 after he issued a notification appointing senior bureaucrat Shakuntla Gamla as the acting Chief Secretary following instruction of Lt Governor Najeeb Jung.

The Lt Governor, on the same evening, had declared the order to transfer Majumdar “void” but the AAP government did not allow him to resume his duties and had appointed Rajendra Kumar as Principal Secretary of the Services Department.

Rai was the choice of the AAP government for the post of acting Chief Secretary.

“Anindo Majumdar has been appointed as CMD (Chairman and Managing Director) of DFC while Rai is appointed as Principal Secretary of Social Welfare and W&CD,” an order signed by Rajendra Kumar, Principal Secretary in Services Department, said.

Gamlin’s appointment as acting Chief Secretary by the Lt Governor had triggered a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and Jung, with Kejriwal questioning Jung’s authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.

Despite Kejriwal’s strong opposition, Jung had appointed Gamlin to the post as Chief Secretary, while K K Sharma had taken a 10-day-long leave.

Amid the confrontation, the Union Home Ministry on May 21 had issued a notification giving absolute powers to the Lt Governor in appointment of bureaucrats and issues relating to police and public order.

The Delhi High Court on Monday had termed as “suspect” the Home Ministry’s notification and noted that the Lt Governor is bound to act upon the aid and advice of the council of ministers.

Following the court order, the Delhi government on Monday had effected a bureaucratic reshuffle transferring nine senior officials. — PTI