• Source:JND
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A show-cause notice was issued by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on Monday to Ashish More, who was removed as secretary of the services department last week. The notice was served days after his phone was reportedly switched off.

More has been directed by the Delhi government to reply within 24 hours on why disciplinary proceedings under the All India Services (AIS) (Discipline & Appeal) Rules 1969 should not be initiated against him for violation of the AIS (Conduct) Rules 1968.

The government, in its notice issued today, said, "The aforesaid conduct of Ashish Madhavrao More it is apparent that after knowing about the intention of the Government of NCTD to transfer him from the post of Secretary Services, he has been trying through illegal means to continue upon the said post for attaining some ulterior objectives. By aforesaid conduct, he also intends to sabotage and delay the implementation of the judgment of the Constitution Bench of Supreme Court. It also appears to be a malafide attempt to obstruct the exercise of lawful powers by an elected Government."

This comes after, the Delhi government, asked More to make way for his replacement. More was asked to present a file for the transfer of a new officer to the post of Secretary of the Services Department.

The Delhi government's decision came a day after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Kejriwal government and said that the officers would be reporting to the GNCTD and not the Lieutenant Governor.

Delhi's Services Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said on Friday that after More was asked to present the file, he unexpectedly left the Secretariat without notifying the Minister's office, rendering himself unreachable while his phone also remained switched off.

The Delhi government had earlier said that the failure of the Services Secretary to comply with the orders of the Supreme Court would potentially be considered contempt of court.

(With input from agencies)