Govt’s ‘feedback unit’ under Najeeb Jung’s scrutiny

L-G panel inspecting 400 files on Cabinet decisions.

The Aam Aadmi Party government’s Cabinet decision to set up a feedback unit comprising retired police and security experts to oversee implementation of various schemes might be the next in line to face lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung’s ire. The L-G appointed three-member panel, which is scrutinising 400 Delhi government files, is examining the AAP government’s Cabinet decision in this regard.

The Delhi Cabinet in September last year had decided to set up the unit to keep an eye on implementation of various schemes. Delhi government sources said that the unit was never set up and it remained only a decision. They also called the news reports about the unit’s formation as totally baseless.

It is understood that the panel, set up by the L-G to examine the files after the Delhi high court ruled that the L-G is the administrative head of the city government, was also looking into the file pertaining to the Cabinet decision on setting up the feedback unit.

As per reports, the unit functioned directly under chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and comprised retired police officials among others. In August, Mr Jung had constituted the panel to examine around 400 files. It was claimed that they contained “infirmities and irregularities” and that decisions based on the file noting were violative of laid down norms and procedures.

The lieutenant governor’s panel comprising former CAG V.K. Shunglu, former Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami and ex-chief vigilance commissioner Pradeep Kumar.

The Kejriwal government had termed the panel as “illegal” and had asked the members to halt work till its petition challenging the HC order is decided by the Supreme Court.

The L-G had on Friday dissolved the Delhi Waqf Board and had referred the board’s reconstitution to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe for alleged corruption and procedural irregularities in functioning. The L-G declared the board’s reconstitution, announced the appointment of its chief executive officer (CEO) and members as illegal and void ab initio, superseded as per procedure, and that it would be administered by a special secretary-level bureaucrat through an additional charge.

Earlier, Mr Jung asked the Delhi government to “rescind” its notification of August 4, 2015, in which circle rates of agricultural lands were revised without his approval. He had also set aside the appointment of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairman Krishna Saini on grounds of “illegal infirmities.”

Mr Jung, however, directed the Delhi government to initiate the process for selection of the next DERC chairperson.