New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry today declared the suspension orders of two DANICS-cadre officers by the Delhi government as null and void.
Yashpal Garg and Subhash Chandra, two senior civil service officers of the Home Department were suspended for their refusal to sign a file pertaining to a Cabinet decision by the Delhi government on increasing the salary of public prosecutors.
Resultantly, over 200 state government bureaucrats have gone on mass leave to protest against the suspension.
On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has claimed a conspiracy behind the 200 officers taking mass leave on Thursday. Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain has cried foul over the officers' decision to approach Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung instead of speaking to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The threat of mass leave stands to threaten the implementation of the odd-even formula, as a number of the officers in question are involved in the January 1 implementation of the road-rationing plan. The issues also risks escalating into another confrontation between the Centre and the Delhi government.
Agitated over the suspension of the two officers, the DANICS Officers' Association, consisting of around 200 members who hold crucial posts including that of SDM, secretary to minister and special secretary, on Wednesday threatened to go on mass leave.
"Delhi Government does not have power to suspend any DANICS officer and it can only recommend suspension of DANICS officer and on this, LG can suspend him or her with permission from MHA," said a representative of the association.
