The Delhi Government’s services department in its review report found that the appointment of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) worker Gopal Mohan as Vice President of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD) was not only without due diligence but also were granted pay scales equivalent to Secretary to Government of India without express justification/approval.
In its review report regarding withdrawal of pay by non-official Members of DDCD at par with Secretary to Government of India, the services department has sent a detailed note to Principal Secretary ( Finance) saying the fixation of his salary in the category/equivalent to the Secretary to government of India without any justification or clear approval by Competent Authority that is Chief Minister.
"The intent, aims and objectives of the Commission were to be achieved by appointing persons of capacity/proven experience/ability equivalent to the level mentioned in the notification of 2016", the report said. Mohan was drawing salary Rs 3,80,250 per month till July 2023. Apart from salary their perks also includes travel in first class by Air and other facilities of this nature.
The report said it is not understood as to how the Pay and Accounts Officials of Planning Department/DDCD had started preparing the bill of these three non-official Members –Aswathi Muralidharan, Vijaya Chandra Vupputuri and Gopal Mohan at par with the Secretary to Govt. of India. Further, appointment letters of.three non official members - Aswathi Muralidharan, Vijaya Chandra Vupputuri and Gopal Mohan also does not mention about their pay.
“As per Cabinet Decision, the Chief Minister has to determine in the first instance whether the honorary position of this member so appointed will be given pay of Secretary to Government of India or as determined. One of the choices have to be decided which was not decided on the file. This being so, there arises no question of non-official members getting salary equivalent to salary of Secretary to Govt. of India. When there is an option to exercise as to whether the pay should be Secretary to Govt. of India or as determined. This question or option was never exercised either by beneficiaries i.e. honorary members or by the Chief Minister,” Special Secretary ( Services) YVVJ Rajasekhar said in its review report.
Citing a three members committee report, the review report said the case of appointment Mohan is fascinating as it goes through series of deft moves apparently designed to provide him benefits. He is first appointed on April 10, 2015 as Advisor (Anti Corruption) to Chief Minister on co-terminus basis with the approval of the Lt. Governor on Rs. 1/- remuneration.
Thereafter, on August 07, 2015 he was moved from the responsibility of Anti Corruption Helpline In-charge to the position of Advisor (Public Grievances), which post was vacated by another person who was drawing a salary of Rs. 1,15,881/- per month. By this sleight of hand Mohan approved by Lt. Governor on an honorarium of Rs.1/- becomes an employee on a salary of Rs. 1.15 lakhs per month without the approval of Lt. Governor.
After the above move to another position some strange things follow. The appointee issues a note (dated 21.07.2015) apparently on 01.10.2015 that he joined with effect from 21.07.2015 as Advisor (Public Grievances) though his appointment is approved by the Chief Minister only on 20.08.2015 and appointment order issued on 16.09.2015. Thus, he effectively overcomes the constraints of the low salary of Rs. 1/- per month by getting the pay of Rs. 1,15,881/- per month from a back date. The GAD also plays along by revising on 12.05.2016, seven months later, the date of approval of his appointment as 07.08.2015 which is the date on which the Principal Secretary to CM had moved the note for the change in his appointment.