I will clear lawyers’ payments, says Manish Sisodia

New Delhi: Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has directed all the Delhi government’s all administrative departments not to make payments to any of their lawyers without his approval.

Mr Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said no administrative department will process payment to any lawyer whose appointment is not approved by the law minister, as per a memorandum issued to the departments. 

The finance department issued a memorandum to all principal secretaries and HoDs after Mr Sisodia “desired” to issue the above-mentioned directions. “All payments of any lawyer(s) of any administrative department shall be made after the finance minister’s approval,” the memorandum read

In Sept., Mr Sisodia had urged lieutenant nant goveror (LG) Anil Baijal to put on hold the recruitment of lawyers being carried out by the services department, saying it suffers from legal infirmities.

In his letter to LG, he alleged that officials had refused to show the file on the recruitment process to him, citing the LG’s orders. Mr Sisodia also holds the services portfolio.