Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Feb 23: A delegation of IAS officers working in the Delhi State Government today met Union Minister in-charge DoPT, Dr Jitendra Singh and discussed with him, in detail, the issue of the alleged assault on Chief Secretary of Delhi, Anshu Prakash, by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs during an official meeting in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. The delegation was led by Manisha Saxena, Secretary AGMUT Cadre IAS association.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed deep anguish over the incident of assault and misbehavior with Anshu Prakash. They also presented to the Minister a number of resolutions of condemnation passed by IAS associations of different States and Union Territories as well as other services such as IPS, IRS, IFoS etc.
The delegation also alleged that even the women officers of senior level were not spared and were called for meetings at odd hours, during late night or very early in the morning. They also mentioned several incidents in the past where the officers of different ranks had been similarly assaulted.
During the meeting, the delegation submitted that they strongly condemn the assault on a Government officer during the execution of his duties. They also submitted a memorandum stating that any incident of physical or verbal assault on an officer compromises the safety and demotivates him or her.
The morale of the officers working in Delhi Government had been lowered to such an extent that many of the officers opt for voluntary retirement and sought transfer to other States. The delegation demanded strict view to be taken by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).
Dr Jitendra Singh gave a patient hearing to all the senior IAS officers and said that DoPT is the Cadre Controlling Authority (CCA) of IAS offices and therefore, it is the responsibility of DoPT not only to ensure protection of officers but also to ensure that they are provided a work – friendly environment wherein they can perform to the best of their ability and potential. The bureaucrats are the essential tools of governance and to achieve good governance, the performing officers who work with integrity and diligence ought to be encouraged and provided necessary safeguards by the Government.
Dr Jitendra Singh directed Secretary DoPT Ajay Mittal to hold a detailed meeting with two or three representatives from the IAS fraternity of Delhi Government and discuss how best to follow the existing guidelines and if required, incorporate new provisions to ensure dignity and observance of propriety. He said, it is only through a healthy synergism between these two pillars of Government, namely the bureaucracy and the polity, that the common goal of good governance can be achieved in the interest of the public and the nation.
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