Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash on Tuesday 27 February attended a Cabinet meeting to finalise dates for the Delhi Assembly's Budget Session, his first official meet with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal since he was allegedly assaulted by AAP MLAs last week.
Hours before the meeting, Prakash, in a letter to Kejriwal, said he would attend it to discuss important budget matters, assuming that the chief minister ensures "no physical attack and verbal assault" on officers attending the meet.
Ahead of the meeting, several senior bureaucrats stood in silent protest in the arcade of the secretariat wearing black armbands, Hindustan Times reported.
Tuesday’s Delhi Cabinet discussions were also recorded on two cameras while over a dozen police personnel were stationed outside, the HT report added.
The report in the English daily added that Delhi CM Kejriwal said the decision to record the meeting was to bring “greater transparency” and to avoid any “false allegations”.
This is the first meeting of the chief secretary with Kejriwal since the alleged assault on him by some AAP MLAs at the chief minister's residence on 19 February.
In his letter, Prakash said, "A meeting of the Council of Ministers has been scheduled (today) to discuss important matters of finalisation of dates for the Budget Session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly."
"Since finalising the dates of the Budget Session and passing of the budget are important for the functioning of government, I along with officers concerned, will be attending the meeting," he said.
Prakash said that he hoped that in the Cabinet meeting, proper decorum would be maintained and dignity of officers would be protected.
The Delhi Assembly's Budget Session would be held from 16 to 28 March, the Cabinet decided.
Delhi Home Secretary Protests Videography, Seeks Tapes For Confidentiality
Delhi Home Secretary Manoj Kumar Parida wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, protesting the videography of Tuesday's Cabinet meeting and sought confidentiality of such meetings, a source told PTI.
The Home secretary pointed out that the deliberations in the Cabinet meeting are confidential and the tape of videography of the cabinet meeting should be handed over to the Home department for a record so that confidentially could be ensured.Source told PTI
Sources said that in the letter, the home secretary has also cited Official Secrets Act provisions.
(With inputs from PTI)
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