Govt think tank yet another flashpoint in LG vs govt war
NEW DELHI: The office of Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) vice-chairperson Jasmine Shah has been sealed on orders of lieutenant governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, officials aware of the matter said on Friday, adding that the LG has also urged chief minister Arvind Kejriwal to sack Shah on charges of misusing his office for political purposes.
Shah’s office was sealed at 10.20pm on Thursday, according to documents seen by HT, after the DDC vice-chairperson was given two opportunities to reply to a show cause notice but failed to do so.
Reacting to the developments, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Friday demanded that the office of ITDC chairperson Sambit Patra be also sealed as he is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson.
Despite repeated calls and messages, Patra did not respond to Sisodia’s comment.
Shah said the LG’S order has no “basis in law”.
“The action taken by Delhi’s LG to seal my office at DDC and stop me from discharging my duties is without jurisdiction, completely illegal and unconstitutional. The LG has said I cannot act as a spokesperson for AAP while being vice-chairperson of DDC. I have one question for the LG - Sambit Patra is a National Spokesperson of BJP while also holding the office of Chairman of ITDC. If my office is being sealed, then why not his? How can two laws operate in the same country - one for AAP and one for BJP?,” Shah said in a statement.
The DDC — the state government’s think-tank — was founded in 2015 and has been behind the formulation of various policies by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi. Shah, the DDC vice-chairperson, holds the rank of a minister in the Delhi government and is entitled to pay, allowance and other facilities at par with other ministers.
The charges against Shah stem from a complaint lodged against him by West Delhi MP and BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma in September, in which he accused the DDC vice-chairperson of using his office for political activities such as attending political debates on TV on behalf of the ruling AAP.
According to the official in the LG’S office, Shah was issued a show cause notice on October 17 by Vijender Singh Rawat, the director of the planning department -- the administrative department of the DDC -- but Shah failed to submit his reply.
Instead, Shah stated that the response had been submitted to the planning department minister -- a portfolio under Sisodia. He also noted that the LG has no jurisdiction over him, and only the
CM has the power to remove him.
According to the official in the LG’S office, on November 4, the LG’S office wrote to the CM’S office, seeking Shah’s reply, but the CM’S office is yet to respond to the letter.
Thereafter, the LG asked the CM to remove Shah, and in the interim, seal his office to prevent any further misuse.
An order dated November 17, issued by planning department director Rawat, stated, “LG has ordered that Jasmine Shah be restricted from discharge of functions as vice chairman DDCD and to use any privileges and facilities connected with the office of VC DDCD with immediate effect.”
HT has seen a copy of the order.
In compliance with the order, a team of officials led by SDM Civil Lines sealed Shah’s office at 10:20pm on Thursday. A notice signed by the SDM Civil Lines read: “Entry in this room is not allowed to anyone whosoever tries to break the seal and enter the room will be prosecuted.”
After the development, Sisodia on Friday said Patra’s office should also be sealed.
“Jasmine’s office has been locked by the LG, alleging that he is an AAP spokesperson. Then the office of Sambit Patra, who is the chairman of ITDC, should also be sealed since he is a spokesperson of the BJP,” he said.
“It is clear that LG’S order has no basis in law. LG’S order today makes no mention of which law or rules are being violated,” Shah said in his statement.
However, West Delhi MP Verma told HT said despite being a public servant, Shah had acted as the official spokesperson of the AAP. “I wrote to the LG to bring this in his notice and had demanded his sacking,” he said.
Shah hit back at the allegations and said, “The position of Vice Chairperson, DDCD, holds the rank of a Minister in Delhi government. If the LG can initiate proceedings against me, tomorrow he can move to dismiss any other minister or the Hon’ble CM of Delhi for representing AAP at political forums? It is clear that LG’S order is illegal and unconstitutional.