'Extremely Shocking': Delhi Minister Atishi Writes To Chief Secy Over Govt Officials 'Demanding Bribes'

"This is extremely shocking, since SDM offices are one of the nodal points through which the Government is providing services to the citizens," she said in the letter.

New Delhi: Soon after taking charge of the Vigilance department, Delhi Cabinet minister Atishi on Monday wrote to the Chief Secretary complaining about government officials demanding bribes to complete tasks related to certificates at the SDM office.

As per an official notification issued on Monday, Atishi has been given the charge of the Vigilance and Services departments.

"This is extremely shocking, since SDM offices are one of the nodal points through which the Government is providing services to the citizens," she said in a letter addressed to Naresh Kumar, the Chief Secretary of Delhi.

Vigilance Minister Atishi directed the Chief Secretary to form a team of officials and send them to all the SDM offices to inspect the matter at the ground level.

"The Chief Secretary, who also acts as the Chief Vigilance Officer is hereby directed to set-up a team of senior IAS and DANICS officers to visit all SDM offices, within the next one week, and conduct an inspection at the ground level with regard to any corrupt practices that may be going on," the letter said.

Atishi also instructed the Chief Secretary to personally visit at least five SDM offices to investigate cases of corruption.

"The Chief Vigilance Officer should himself visit at least five SDM Offices and conduct a general examination of the functioning of these offices for existing procedures and practices which provide a scope for corruption," it said.

The Chief Vigilance Officer is required to furnish a detailed report on the irregularities observed in the SDM offices to the Vigilance Minister within one week, the letter stated.

Earlier on August 8, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had made the recommendation to allocate the two departments, which were earlier handled by Cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, to Atishi.

With this, the number of portfolios held by Atishi has risen to 14.

Besides the two new departments, Atishi holds charge of 12 others including Education, Finance, Revenue, Public Works Department, Women and Child Development, Power, Tourism, and Planning.