Delhi lokayukta has recommended to President Pranab Mukherjee to issue a direction to the Delhi Government to frame appropriate guidelines for issuance of advertisements, hoardings etc featuring photographs of public functionaries.
“Direct the Government of Delhi to frame appropriate guidelines that would govern the issuance of advertisements, hoardings etc containing photographs and images of public functionaries even during the period when model code is not applicable so as to conform to the norms of conduct and integrity expected of ‘public functionaries,” the lokayukta said in the order.
The order by lokayukta also recommended Mukherjee that an advisory also be issued to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan asking them to desist from publication of their photographs on a form offering loan at low rates to entrepreneurs from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities.
The order by lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin came in response to a complaint filed last year by BJP leader Harshvardhan who objected to publication of the photographs on the loan form, saying it was aimed at getting “undue political gain” from intended beneficiaries. “Issue an ‘advisory’ to the Chief Minister of Delhi and the concerned
Minister to desist from printing their photographs on the loan application forms under the Dilli Swarojgar Yojna,” Justice Sarin said in the order. Delhi Government had launched Dilli Swarojgar Yojna in September last year under which youths from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities were to be given loan up to Rs 5 lakh.