Why Key Statutory Bodies, Govt Depts Are Headless

New Delhi: Several statutory bodies and various Delhi govt departments and related agencies are running without regular heads and members for the last few months due to the non-convening of meetings of the National Capital Civil Services Authority (NCCSA).
Formed last year by central govt to recommend the transfer and posting of Group A officials in the offices under the control of Delhi govt officials or agencies related to it, the three-member NCCSA has not met since Sept 20 last year.The panel, which also recommends disciplinary action against Group A officers posted in Delhi govt, is chaired by chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is currently in jail.
Sources said critical decisions on the transfer of officials and disciplinary proceedings were decided by sending the file to the chairman and two other members – the chief secretary and member secretary – but most other decisions are stuck and are affecting governance. No immediate reaction was available from AAP govt. Public Grievance Commission, Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Delhi Commission for Women are among the prominent statutory bodies that do not have chairpersons. Sources said there are several higher education institutions which don’t have chairpersons and members in the governing body. “Of 13 big state hospitals, only four have full-time medical superintendents or directors,” said an official, requesting anonymity.
Similarly, govt departments such as home and revenue don’t have full-time principal secretaries. “The link officers, who clear only routine files if the department head is on leave, are forced to head these departments. Since they can’t take major decisions, several files are pending. At least three IAS officers have been waiting to be posted, but cannot unless the NCCSA meets,” the official said, adding that home and land are only to departments where IAS officers can be posted without NCCSA meetings.
Delhi govt does not have a full-time secretary and commissioner in the excise department and the education director. As per the Govt of NCT of Delhi Act, 2023, the meeting of the NCCSA can only be called by the member secretary after the approval of the chairperson (Delhi CM). While the chairperson of the panel presides over the meetings, all matters are decided by majority. The recommendations are approved by the LG.
The NCCSA was supposed to meet on Dec 8. This was postponed.