In Letter To CM Kejriwal, Delhi LG Cites 'Inordinate Delay' In Statutory Bodies Formation

The LG "advised" the CM to instruct his ministers to expedite the disposal of all matters submitted to them, noting the broader public interest and the necessity for accountability in governance.

File Photo Of Delhi LG V K Saxena And Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Lt Governor VK Saxena wrote a detailed letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, highlighting an "inordinate delay" in the constitution of crucial statutory bodies and associated appointments, according to reports from news agency PTI on Wednesday.

No immediate response has been received from the AAP government regarding the contents of the letter.

Dated February 19, the five-page letter from the LG voiced concerns about a recurring pattern across departments where ministers allegedly withhold files without valid reasons, leading to prolonged delays in decision-making.

The LG, in his communication, stated, "Such omissions and commissions on the part of the government and its ministers, apart from adversely impacting the lives of millions in Delhi, also reflect poorly on the state of governance in the city and needs to be rectified."

Reportedly, the LG "advised" the chief minister to instruct his ministers to expedite the disposal of all matters submitted to them, noting the broader public interest and the necessity for accountability in governance.

Expressing strong dissatisfaction, the LG remarked that Delhi's government appears to be unique in the country, facing undue and unjustifiable delays in handling files for months and even years.

The LG urged the chief minister to take "personal interest" in addressing the issue to prevent its recurrence.

As per PTI, the letter cited instances such as the pending constitution of a state-level monitoring committee under Plastic Waste (Management & Handling) Rule, 2011; declaration of district magistrates as responsible sanitation authority under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013; constitution of the governing council of Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, and formation of a search-selection committee for appointing the chairperson to the board of governors of Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology Delhi, IIITD.

The LG expressed distress over the "unmindful neglect and inordinate delay" in all these cases and drew attention to the government's apparent habit of significantly delaying the appointment or constitution of statutory bodies meant for the welfare of Delhi's residents.

Providing specific instances, the LG highlighted the lengthy delays in proposals such as the state-level committee on plastic waste, declaration of district magistrates as RSA, formation of the governing council of Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital, and the chairperson appointment for IIITD.

The LG also flagged delays in the constitution of the state food commission, appointment of district grievance redressal officers, and reconstitution of the Delhi Animal Welfare Board and its executive committee, where files reached his desk under external pressure from courts and the Union government, with the Delhi government allegedly providing misleading information to the courts about the pending approvals.