In the wake of a CBI raid at the office of the chief minister’s secretary and the lodging of two FIRs against the Vigilance Secretary, an IAS officers’ body on Saturday met Arvind Kejriwal seeking a “conducive atmosphere” that would allow them to work in a “free and neutral manner”.
The babus demanded an “institutional mechanism” for dealing with bona fide policy decisions and administrative actions.
The association also sought an appointment with Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and the Union home secretary to take up issues concerning bureaucrats.
“There has to be an institutional mechanism... The chief minister has assured us that he will create a conducive atmosphere for officers to work in a free and neutral manner,” said A. Anbarasu, secretary of the AGMUT cadre IAS Officers’ Association.
According to the association, the chief minister assured them that he would do all that is required to strengthen the institutional mechanisms. The officers claimed they were being victimised due to the tussle between the Centre and AAP government in Delhi. They added that they want to work in a free, fair and neutral manner.
On December 17, home minister Satyendar Jain had tweeted, “Centre now demoralised many Delhi government officials, many of whom fear they might be targeted just for working with Kejriwal govt (sic).”
On Wednesday, the IAS officers had also convened a meeting chaired by chief secretary K.K. Sharma at Secretariat, a few days after CBI raids at the office of Mr Kejriwal’s secretary Rajendra Kumar and registration of two FIRs against vigilance secretary Chetan B. Sanghi in an alleged corruption case.
