Chief Secretary bypasses CM

By Sujay Mehdudia

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 7. In yet another instance of bureaucracy turning a deaf ear to the political leadership, the Chief Secretary, Mr.P.S. Bhatnagar, has sent the file on notification of land compensation rates enhancement to the Delhi Lieutenant- Governor, Mr. Vijai Kapoor, over-looking objections from the Chief Minister, Ms. Sheila Dikshit, and her Finance Minister.

This is not the first time that the bureaucracy has put the government in an embarrassing situation. Today's development reflects poorly on the ruling Congress(I) which has come in for constant flak from the MLAs, party workers and even the Opposition for working at the behest of bureaucrats.

The Delhi Government had suffered a similar embarrassment last year also when the former Urban Development Secretary, Ms. Suman Swaroop, had by-passed the Chief Minister and the Urban Development Minister, Dr.A.K. Walia, and had directly sent the consent on behalf of the Delhi Government to the Centre on regularisation of unauthorised colonies, after being directed by the Lieutenant-Governor.

Insiders in the Delhi Government said that after objections were raised by MLAs during their meeting on Wednesday that the new land compensation rates were still not being paid despite announcement, the Chief Minister had asked the Finance Minister, Mr. Mahinder Singh Saathi to look into the issue and work out a quick solution. Following this, the matter was taken up by Mr.Saathi with his Department and he sought immediate summoning of the related file.

Sources said the matter was then reportedly discussed between the Chief Secretary and the Finance Minister. Later, the focus of the discussions shifted to the Chief Minister's office and she asked Mr. Bhatnagar to put up the file so that the necessary notification could be issued. But it is understood that Mr. Bhatnagar objected to this and pointed out that neither the Chief Minister or her government was not competent to issue a notification. This could be done by the Lieutenant-Governor alone.

Mr. Bhatnagar also reportedly refused to pass on the file to the Chief Minister or Finance Minister for doing the needful. It is believed the Chief Minister asked Mr. Bhatnagar to hang on to the file and she would discuss the matter in a day or two before taking a final decision. The Chief Minister was of the view that after the Lieutenant-Governor had approved the new rates, there was no need to send the file again to him for approval.

But this argument did not convince the Chief Secretary who, in clear definance of the directions of the Chief Minister, sent the file the Raj Niwas. This has upset the Chief Minister and sent shock waves among the political leaders. It is known fact that files relating to certain important decisions are delayed at Raj Niwas and are kept pending. This development is certainly not going to help smoothen relations between Raj Niwas and the Sheila Dikshit Government.

Ms. Dikshit is also furious that efforts were being made to stall the implementation of new land compensation rates in order to defame the Congress(I) Government. After having completed all the formalities and even getting the new rates passed by the House as well as the Cabinet, payments are still not being made to the farmers. She is also understood to have conveyed her reservations to Mr. Kapoor.

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