Deepak Mohan Spolia, a 1979 batch IAS officer, was today re-appointed Chief Secretary of Delhi government replacing S K Srivastava who was handpicked by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in January.
An IAS officer of AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram- Union Territories) cadre, Spolia was removed as Chief Secretary in January the by Home Ministry following a request by Kejriwal.
He was first made Chief Secretary in December 2012 and in January he was transferred as Financial Commissioner of Delhi Government.
Spolia's reappointment came just three days after a BJP delegation led by party's Delhi chief Satish Upadhyay met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and complained against "rigid attitude" of certain officials in the city administration.
Senior IAS officer Srivastava has been relieved from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) for his parent Union Territory cadre.
Sources said no assignment has been given to Srivastava, a 1980-batch IAS officer, so far. He was working as Special Secretary and Financial Adviser at Ministry of Health and Family Welfare before being appointed Delhi Chief Secretary.
Congress welcomed Spolia's reappointment as Chief Secretary saying the NDA government at the Centre has reposed faith in an officer who was chosen for the job by the Sheila Dikshit government.
"We welcome Spolia's appointment as Delhi Chief Secretary. BJP had to chose an officer who was appointed to the top job by the Congress government," said Delhi Congress chief spokesperson Mukesh Sharma.
Spolia is credited with taking steps in regularising over 800 unauthorised colonies in the national capital.
Sources said he is being brought back to ensure regularisation of the remaining 800 unauthorised colonies before the next assembly polls in the city.
