The ‘Questions and Reference Committee’ of Delhi Assembly recommended to initiate contempt proceeding of the House against South Delhi Municipal Corporation (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 SMCD 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.
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 SDMC commissioner, Additional Commissioner Meeta Singh and other senior officials of the civic body appeared before the Committee, but Bhardwaj, who is also its member, refused to accept their reply, saying that Singh was not able to
answer questions.
The 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. Committee’s proceeding started at 3.15 pm at MlA lounge of Delhi Assembly.