Following repeated complaints by Aam Aadmi Party MlAs against officers for not providing answers to the written questions, Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Thursday warned bureaucrats of strict action as per laid down rules if they do not provide proper answers by Monday.
Taking a stand against three senior bureaucrats for allegedly not providing answers to the written questions, the Speaker on Wednesday had asked them to remain present during the House proceedings on Thursday. Following the directive, Principal Secretaries of Education, Power and Revenue departments attended the Assembly session.
Soon after Assembly proceedings began, many of the MlAs started accusing officers for halting development by not implementing Government initiatives. They alleged that the officers have not provided proper answers to their questions intentionally.
Addressing the Assembly, the Speaker that he was feeling helpless sitting in the chair as the officers have yet not provided answers of the questions asked by MlAs today as well. "I am extending the session till Monday. If officers do not provide answers to these questions on Monday, I will take strict action whatever I can do as per rules," he said.
The three-day session that started on Wednesday, was scheduled to conclude on Friday.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia alleged that the bureaucrats deliberately withhold the answers and employ dilly- dallying tactics so as to weaken the democratic system and to undermine the importance of constitutional institutions like the CAG and the Election Commission.
"It is being done to impose dictatorship in the country. The Prime Minister himself doesn't believe in democratic institution," he said.
Sisodia also said questions on similar issues were asked before also. "Is there a new Constitution in the country nowIJ How can education department hold answers to questions on number of vacant posts in schools, citing it falls under services matterIJ" Sisodia said.
He said it is not the first instance that the Government officers have refused to provide written answers to questions asked by public representatives.
The AAP legislators also accused the officials of issuing any new ration cards.
It may be recalled that during the Budget Session in March, Goel had hit out at lieutenant Governor (l-G) Anil Baijal after he communicated to him that he cannot admit questions on reserved subjects, including law and order, services and land.
After the development, Goel, Sisodia, Cabinet Ministers and all party legislators wore black bands during the House proceedings to mark their protest against the l-G's move. later, Goel wrote to lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan over the issue, alleging the power of legislation is being encroached upon by the l-G.