Did Jagdeep Dhankhar, who suddenly resigned as the Vice-President earlier this week, go beyond his mandate and powers to appoint an officer as the Secretary and In-charge of Sansad TV in April?
In what top sources in the government called “a coup-like situation", Dhankhar allegedly attempted an appointment, which only the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) can carry out.
“Dhankhar wanted a junior officer to take charge as the Secretary and Incharge of Sansad TV after then Secretary Rajit Puhnani was made the Skill Development Secretary in April. These are ACC posts and the Rajya Sabha can’t appoint officers. The Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha, VP and President can’t make appointments. The officers have to be picked from the offer list of the central government. Allotment of officers is the job of the ACC and those appointments are only considered valid Dhankhar was to issue orders," alleged sources.
“The PM was abroad and top officials intervened to stop that. Even the officer was told not to join. He was told that appointment would be illegal and would create a legal crisis. Multiple calls were made between cadre controlling authorities, the PMO and Rajya Sabha Secretariat to avoid it. The officer was even suggested to proceed on leave if pressure comes to join and the Rajya Sabha Secretariat issues orders," alleged sources.
Sources alleged he created lot of tension during shifting of his home and the government changed then Urban Development Secretary on his complaint.
The 74-year-old resigned from his post citing health reasons in a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, also shared by the Vice-President’s official X account late on Monday. Dhankhar was elected as the 14th vice-president in August 2022 and his term had two more years.
What is the ACC?
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) is a key decision-making body in the Government of India responsible for approving appointments to top-level posts in the civil services, public sector undertakings (PSUs), and statutory bodies. It is composed of the Prime Minister, who serves as the Chairperson, and the Union Home Minister.
The ACC approves the appointments of secretaries, additional secretaries, joint secretaries, and other senior bureaucrats in ministries and departments, as well as the heads of various regulatory bodies such as the Election Commission, UPSC, and CBI (in consultation with other committees). It also clears appointments of chairpersons and managing directors of Central Public Sector Enterprises.
The committee functions under the Transaction of Business Rules, 1961, framed under Article 77(3) of the Constitution, and its decisions play a vital role in shaping the leadership of India’s administrative and institutional framework.
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