05 April,2011 07:28 AM IST | | Surender Sharma
Newly-appointed Delhi Chief Secretary PK Tripathi says his priority will be good governance
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's Principal Secretary of four years is now Delhi's Chief Secretary. After taking charge, PK Tripathi said on Monday that his top priority would be to keep the focus on good governance. "I have got a rich legacy of good governance from my predecessors. My top priority would be to maintain it," he told reporters.
On the job: PK Tripathi has praised Delhi chief minister Sheila
Dikshit for her professionalism. Pic/Mid Day
"I think it would help me as I have worked with her. The best thing about her is she is very professional. She encourages us a lot," he said, when asked whether his previous job with the Chief Minister would be to his advantage.
Tripathi didn't seem perturbed with the shuffling of top officers in Delhi's bureaucracy. "I don't think this is a problem. Nobody can provide you a cushion. One has to adjust accordingly," he said.
When asked about the reorganisation of the MCD, Tripathi said: "It is a government decision. I don't want to comment on it."
With the state government battling charges of corruption and the CWG mess still a factor, Tripathi has several challenges ahead.
"When that bridge collapsed at JLN last September, I called up the CM. She told me not to think about it and just ensure that the Games were a success. So, I think we should learn from our past," he said.
BJP cries foul
BJP on Monday questioned the appointment of Delhi Chief Secretary, Rakesh Mehta's as state election commissioner. "Even if it were to be argued that no constitutional impropriety as been committed, it is plain to see that no precedent exists to promote the concept either, and if it did, it was always against the spirit of the constitution.
The PM appointed Shunglu Committee has made serious notices against the manner in which the Chief Minister and her administration handled the CW Games expenditure and plans. It stands to reason that the Chief Secretary by association and by virtue of being the lynchpin of the administrative machinery designated to execute the will of the CM in this case cannot be absolved of the chargesu00a0-- at least, not yet.
Under these conditions to not only flout established norms of civility and propose to appoint him Election Commissioner, but to actually reward him for his complicity must rate as one of the most bizarrely blatant attempts to challenge the authority of every institution that has participated in establishing blame for the profligacy of the CM and her administration under the pretext of the CW Games spending," BJP's Sanjay Kaul said.
Not once!
The 77 batch IAS officer, Tripathi was born in 1952 in UP. He began his bureaucratic career from Arunachal Pradesh. He has held important posts in Delhi in the past including as CEO of Delhi Jal Board, Chairman of Delhi Transport and Tourism Development Corporation. Interestingly, when he joined as deputy commissioner, Dopari in Arunachal, he replaced Rakesh Mehta there as well.
Ahead of time
The official time conveyed to the media for taking over as new Chief Secretary by P K Tripathi was given of 10 am. However, he took the chair before the appointed hour. Sources said, a firm believer in astrology, the incumbent had been asked by pundits to take over between 9:48 am and 9:57 am.
Tripathi is generally considered media shy. When photographers kept clicking his pictures for several minutes, the CS quipped, "I think you won't ever need any photo session after this."
