The 'Questions and Reference Committee' of Delhi Assembly today recommended to initiate contempt proceeding of the House against SDMC commissioner and Principal Secretary (UD) for not appearing before the panel in connection with civic body stalling development works being done through MLA-LAD fund.
The committee, headed by Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla, had summoned South MCD commissioner Puneet Kumar Goel, Principal Secretary (Delhi Government's UD) Janak Diggal and other senior officials on a complaint filed by AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj against stalling of various civic works by the SDMC.
The six-member committee passed a proposal to initiate contempt proceeding against Goel and Diggal after it found that despite sending three notices for meeting - December 7, 9 and 13 to them, they did not appear.
Speaker Ram Niwas Goel will take a decision on the House's committee's recommendations and then send the matter to the Assembly's Privilege Committee headed by AAP MLA Somnath Bharti.
On behalf of the South MCD commissioner, Additional Commissioner Meeta Singh and other senior officials of the civic body appeared before 'Questions and Reference Committee', but Bhardwaj, who is also its member, refused to accept their reply, saying that Singh was not able to answer questions.
The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had passed two resolutions directing its staff not to issue NOCs and take developmental work like installing LED lights and equipments in parks using MLALAD in areas falling under its jurisdiction.
During the proceeding, Bhardwaj sought to know whether these resolutions are legally binding on SDMC officers, but Meeta Singh sought time to reply to the query which was rejected by the Committee Chairman.
Committee's proceeding started at 3.15 PM at MLA Lounge of Delhi Assembly. When Bhardwaj asked about the SDMC commissioner, Meeta Singh said that he had back-to-back two meetings; one at 3 PM with the Mayor and the another was at 4 PM with Delhi Chief Secretary.
Irritated over Singh's reply, the committee adjourned its proceeding for 15 minutes. Bhardwaj alleged that South MCD commissioner is not appearing to the panel because he knows that he has allegedly violated rules.
"There is no legal binding of resolutions issued by the SDMC House and Standing Committee. When we asked officers in today's meeting, they did not have answers. MCD officers are not getting development works done through MLA LAD fund, citing that resolutions do now allow them to do the same.
"There is no official order or notification by the commissioner directing SDMC officers not to carry out development works through MLA-LAD fund. SDMC are utilising MP-LAD fund, but they are not doing civic works through MLA-LAD fund," he said.
The committee has called its next meeting on December 19 and directed SDMC commissioner to appear before it.
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