[BREAKING] Transfer of Chief Secretary “endangers federal structure:" Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi, refuses to relieve Alapan Bandyopadhyay

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that the Government of West Bengal will not be relieving Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay as directed by the Central government..On May 24, the Centre had granted Bandhopadhyay a three-month extension, allowing him to carry on his duties in the State beyond the date of his retirement. However, on May 28, the Centre performed a volte face and asked the State to release Bandhopadhyay so that he may join the Government of India on May 31, the date of his retirement..This development came hours after Banerjee skipped a meeting with PM Modi to assess the impact of Cyclone Yaas, choosing instead a quick 15-minute interaction with him at an airbase where his flight landed.She was to attend a cyclone damage review with PM Modi but left after handing him a report. The Centre alleged Banerjee kept PM Modi and Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar waiting for half an hour..Explaining her actions, Banerjee has stated that she was detained at Sagar as flight permissions were delayed to make room for the Prime Minister's movements.However, the Chief Minister took exception to the presence of a local MLA in the PM-CM meeting.She stated that she had to leave for another cyclone ravaged aread, Digha, for which she expressly took the Prime Minister's permission..The Chief Minister stated that this unilateral "order" calling back the Chief Secretary came without any prior consultation with the Government of West Bengal, without any volition/option of the officer, and without meeting any of the pre-conditions of the Indian Administrative Service (Cadre) Rules, 1954 and other applicable laws."The unilateral order/directive is legally untenable, historically unprecedented and wholly unconstitutional," the letter said. ."With unilateral and non-consultative orders being issued, the federal system is gravely endangered and severely undermined. If a Chief Secretary of a State can be recalled like this, how can the lower bureaucracy take, obey and implement orders in their letter or spirit from State Chief Minister, other Ministers and officers," Banerjee asked in her letter..The Chief Minister, thus, requested the Prime Minister to withdraw, recall, reconsider his decision and rescind the latest so-called order in larger public interest. ."The Government of West Bengal cannot, and is not, releasing its Chief Secretary at this critical hour, on the basis of our understanding that the earlier order of extension, issued after lawful consultation in accordance with applicable laws, and not revoked, remains operational and valid. The latest order is also clearly in violation of applicable laws and against public interest: it is in any case ab initio void," the letter said. .Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that she has been informed that the Central government has filed caveats in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) and the Calcutta High Court with regard to the transfer of West Bengal Chief Secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay to Department of Personnel and Training in New Delhi..[West Bengal Chief Secretary Transfer] Central govt has filed caveat in CAT, Calcutta HC; we too may have to move court: CM Mamata Banerjee.[Read Letter]

[BREAKING] Transfer of Chief Secretary “endangers federal structure:" Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi, refuses to relieve Alapan Bandyopadhyay

Debayan Roy

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