The Centre has proposed a six-month extension of the tenure of the current Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar, who is due to retire on November 30. This move has been questioned by the Supreme Court (SC), which noted that the new Act allows the Centre to appoint any candidate.

The Delhi government has opposed this extension, citing a complete lack of trust and communication with the current chief secretary. The SC has directed the Centre to give its reasons on Wednesday (November 29) the need for this extension and the powers available for extension.

The top court has observed that, according to the law, the Centre should let the chief secretary retire and then make an appointment. The court questioned if the Centre is so focused on a single IAS officer that it is unable to make a fresh appointment.

As per a PTI report on November 24, the Supreme Court asked the lieutenant governor of Delhi and the Centre to propose a panel of names for the post of chief secretary of the national capital.

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The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, asked the Centre and LG to share candidates’ names. The bench also asked why LG V.K. Saxena and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cannot meet and amicably discuss names for the post.

The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government against the Centre for extending the tenure of Naresh Kumar.

The Delhi government objected to any move by the Centre to appoint — without any consultation with it — the new chief secretary or extend the tenure of Naresh Kumar.

The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act, notified in August, gives the Centre control over the bureaucracy in Delhi.

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(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)