How the Kejriwal government in Delhi 'grossly' misused power

The decision to allot a residence to DCW chief Swati Mailiwal has come under question.

There has been gross abuse of power by the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi the Shungulu committee report has said. A three member committee had been formed by the former L-G of Delhi, Najeeb Jung.

The committee in its report criticised some of the decisions made by the Kejriwal government including allotment of land for its party office. Further decisions such as the appointment of Minister Satyendra Jain's daughter as mission director of the Delhi State health Mission were also questioned by the committee.

The over 100 page report states that the genesis of the conflict lay in an April 2015 order issued by Kejriwal to all the departments. It directed officers to take decisions without consulting the Lt Governor on all subjects that have been transferred to the Delhi Assembly under Article 239AA(3)a of the Indian Constitution.

The decision to allot land to the AAP to build a party office should be considered "null and void." Further the decision to allot a residence to DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal was also questioned. The report also speaks about the appointment of certain individuals as advisors to the government, taken by Kejriwal and his Cabinet where it had no authority do so and without the LG's concurrence. "In pursuance of the directions of the CM in April 2015, it became the practice among ministers not to obtain the approval of the LG and to provide approval at their level," the report stated.

The other issues pointed out were on posting of officers to the Anti-Corruption Branch, decisions on transfer and appointments of officers, foreign travel undertaken by ministers without the LG's sanction and appointment of lawyers.

OneIndia News