Amid the ongoing tussle with removal of Secretary ( Services) Ashish More who was accused of switching off his mobile phone and making himself “unreachable’ the Arvind Kejriwal Government has issued a show cause notice to him for not complying with its direction to replace him with a new officer and asked  him to to explain the reason for his “unauthorised absence.” 

Pursuant to the directions of the Minister (Services) to transfer the officers and in compliance with the Constitution Bench Judgment of the Supreme Court, the Chief Secretary has convened a meeting Civil Services Board (CSB) to consider the same on May 16. This will be the first meeting of the CSB after the recent judgement of the Supreme Court.

More had been asked to move a file regarding his transfer from the post of secretary (services), but had gone incommunicado after not following instructions to this effect from  Delhi Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj. The Delhi government is planning to initiate disciplinary action against Ashish More for not “complying with the Supreme Court order.

More was removed by the Delhi government from his post on Thursday last week, hours after the Supreme Court gave the AAP dispensation control over the transfer and posting of officers in the state. Bharadwaj in a memo to More had sought his reply within 24 hours after the receipt of the show cause notice.   More was unavailable for his comments on the development related to his transfer. Former Delhi Jal Board CEO A K Singh, a 1995-batch (AGMUT cadre) IAS officer, will replace More.

“Why your unauthorized absence should not be treated as dies non and break in services, as you were absent from the office withou aking leave and without informing competent authority? Why disciplinary proceedings under AIS (D&A) Rules 1969 should not be initiated against him for violation of AIS (Conduct) Rules 1968 Rule 3(1), 3(1)(A)(ii), and 3 subrule 2B (i), (viii), (x), (xi) & (xiii) ? Why displeasure of the GNCTD should not be placed into his Performance Appraisal Dossier?   Why in his APAR “Attitude to work” should not be recorded as “obstructive” & “dubious”, why the “decision making ability” should not be recorded as “biased”, & “disrespectful for law” and why “Pen picture” should not reflect that Ashish Madhavrao More, Secretary (Services) has a mindset of disregarding the rules and obstructs others in discharging their responsibility, and he is not fit for holding position where he may be required to maintain professional integrity,” reads the show cause notice dated May 13.

The notice further said that the conduct of Ashish More Secretary (Services) has revealed that his conduct is highly unbecoming of an IAS officer of the rank Secretary to the GNCTD, he is not politically neutral; he has deliberately denied to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and democratic values. And, he has refused to maintain discipline by aforesaid conduct under extraneous considerations and failed to show professionalism and dedication.

“…it is apparent that after knowing about intention of the Government of NCTD to transfer him from the post of Secretary Services, he has been trying through illegal means to continue upon the said post for attaining some ulterior objectives. By aforesaid conduct he also intends to sabotage and delay the implementation of the judgment of constitution bench of the Supreme Court. It also appears to be a malafide attempt to obstruct the exercise of lawful powers by an elected Government,” reads the notice.

“More has caused Special Secretary (Services) to issue a note on May 11, in which the directions issued by the minister were refused to be complied,” said the memo from Bhardwaj.  More was called by the minister, informed about the SC judgment and was directed to put up a file for his transfer and posting another suitable officer in his place. It was assured by More that the relevant file will be put up to the minister before 3 pm, it claimed.

“Instead of putting up the file, More left the Secretariat without informing the minister or his office.

The minister and his office kept trying to reach More on his office phone and his mobile phone number, but he did not respond to the calls,” claimed the memo.