Speaker writes to CS over bureaucrats ‘not cooperating’ with MLAs

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has asked Chief Secretary Dharmendra to discipline officers who are “ignoring” communications from MLAs.

In a letter sent to Mr. Dharmendra on Wednesday, Mr. Gupta underscored the protocol officers must adhere to when dealing with Assembly members.

“A few instances have been brought to my notice where the communications of the Members in the form of letters, phone calls or messages have not even been acknowledged by the concerned officer,” read the letter.

“This is a serious matter, and I think there is an urgent need to reiterate the instructions issued in this regard by the General Administration Department, Government of NCT of Delhi and the Department of Personnel & Training, Government of India, from time to time,” wrote Mr. Gupta.

The Speaker also asked Mr. Dharmendra to update him on the action taken in the matter.

Incidentally, the previous Aam Aadmi Party government had also accused the bureaucrats of “non-cooperation” on various occasions.

In a post on X, AAP leader and former Delhi Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “For ten years, officers were taught not to listen to Ministers and MLAs. Those who used to advise AAP on every issue are themselves troubled today…the BJP has now understood that weakening democracy only harms thecountry.”