NEW DELHI:Cracking the whip, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has asked the Arivind Kejriwal government to furnish details of consultants employed on contractual-basis by the state government so far. Besides, details about officials on deputation to the Delhi government and its subordinate organisations have also been sought.
The development follows the appointment of over 1,500 consultants by the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues. Hiring Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers in government on contractual-basis has invited much criticism.
Earlier, The Sunday Standard, under title ‘Delhi government Pvt Ltd’, had reported how the Kejriwal government is recruiting private people to execute projects and policies in Delhi, so as to devote more time and resources in Gujarat, Punjab and Goa where the chief minister is keen to make inroads and grab power.
The state cabinet has already cleared the proposal to hire consultants and applications will be invited for 14 private consultants, who will be paid monthly salary of over `2.5 lakh each.
In a communication to all secretaries and heads of the Delhi government, the Lt Governor’s office has said the Home Ministry has requested to furnish the information in respect of officials on deputation and consultants employed on contract by September 5.
The AAP government has also appointed 30 scholars under Delhi CM’s Urban Leaders Fellowship Programme at monthly salary of `1.25 lakh each, while every assistant scholar will get `75,000 a month.The hiring was done for inspection of background preparations for the launch of reforms, project management, fast-track implementation of priority projects, providing feedback on progress of key programmes to ministers and secretaries; strengthening concurrent monitoring and evaluation of key programmes. They will also monitor bureaucrats, besides help ministers in government processes and functioning, communication, leadership and conflict resolution.
Sources in the state secretariat said with the high court order rendering all decisions made by Kejriwal government—without the Lieutenant Governor’s approval—illegal, bureaucrats, who were confused over the pecking order, will now go strictly by the book. As a result, more and more private recruits will be hired at taxpayers’ expense.