The Delhi government on Monday said services department secretary Ashish Madhaorao More (IAS:2005:AGMUT), who was removed from his post and “absconding” since then, “fell in line” after a show cause notice was served on him.
Service Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj issued More a memo on May 13, seeking him to show cause and threatening disciplinary action for allegedly failing to comply with a directive for his transfer and going “incommunicado ”.
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More had earlier “refused” to comply with the minister’s instructions to post Anil Kumar Singh (IAS:1995:AGMUT) as the new Services Secretary in his place. In a statement, the Delhi government said he had gone “absconding” from Delhi Secretariat and his wife had no idea where he was.
“His sudden change of stance comes after he was served with a show cause notice by the services minister demanding an explanation for his unauthorised absence,” it said.
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The government said More “emerged from hiding” on Monday afternoon and acknowledged receiving the show cause notice. He also expressed his willingness to comply with the Supreme Court’s order and accordingly move the file for the posting of a new secretary of services.
In the memo to More, Bhardwaj sought his response within 24 hours over charges that he refused to comply with the transfer order.
The Delhi government had approached the Supreme Court on Friday alleging that the Centre wasn’t implementing the transfer of services secretary More. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had said a bench would be constituted to hear the matter.
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