The Directorate of Vigilance of the Government of Delhi has issued an order terminating Bibhav Kumar, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Private Secretary.
According to the order, “Consequent upon the resignation of the Council of Ministers notified vide dated 14.02.2020 the term of the government has ended, and being a coterminous officer, the appointment of Bibhav Kumar will also have to be terminated.”
However, it is mentioned that “the personal staff of the outgoing Minister can continue to hold their post for a period not exceeding 15 days.” Despite this, Kejriwal has expressed his desire for Kumar to continue as his Private Secretary, requiring the termination of his previous appointment and a fresh one to be considered.
The Vigilance Department emphasized the importance of character and antecedents verification for individuals appointed on a coterminous basis, noting that negative reports have not been received against Kumar during his time as the Chief Minister’s Private Secretary.
However, the order states, “in case any adverse report is received in the future, the officer would be liable for necessary action.” The appointment is also made subject to the outcome of a case registered at the Noida, Sector-20 police station under sections 353, 504, 506 IPC, as reported in Kumar’s character and antecedents verification report from the Delhi Police.
It is clear that scrutiny and accountability are crucial in the appointment of officials, especially in high-profile positions. As of now, Bibhav Kumar’s future as the Private Secretary to the Chief Minister remains uncertain pending further developments in the case.
(This article has been published via a syndicated feed)
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