In an unusual practice, the Arvind Kejriwal Government has taken majority of the Cabinet decisions by “circulation” in the past three years. This means no discussion has taken place among the Ministers and officers concerned of the Delhi Government and Cabinet agenda dictated from the top. Even the Chief Secretary and concern Heads of Departments were not kept in the loop during the Cabinet discussion.
The document accessed by The Pioneer shows the numbers of decisions taken by the Cabinet through circulation were 15 in 2024 (as on July 31, 2024) and only six were in physical modes.
Similarly, the number of decisions taken through circulation in 2022 are 17 out 21 and in the year 2023 this number rose to 29 circulation and only a meager five are through deliberations and physical mode.
The Cabinet decisions taken through circulation in 2024 include Delhi Solar Energy Policy, 2023, Budget Session of Delhi Legislative Assembly, approval of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), proposal for implementation of Business Blasters Scheme (seniors) for GNCTD Universities and it is, proposal for approval of additional project cost due to enhanced compensation of land in Delhi Mass Rapid Transit System (DMRTS) Phase-I & II and its release thereof.
“Cabinet meetings (Council of Ministers) are central to governance. In the meetings, deliberation takes place at length and views of every Minister are ascertained along with the presentation by the department.
“The Department concerned pilots the proposal through the proper presentation before the Cabinet and thereafter it is deliberated upon and discussed before giving the final decision by the Cabinet,” the document said. Notably, the Government approves agenda or proposal through circulation only in an emergency situation.
In 2023, the Cabinet decisions taken through circulation of files include ex post facto sanction of additional amount `78,66,528/ for the expenditure made for extending Group (Term) Insurance with LIC of India under Chief Minister Advocates Welfare Scheme, extension of contract with service provider i.e., Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) for 6 months for distribution of food grains, modification in the policy of shifting of HT (11KV, 33KV & 66KV)/LT (400V) Electricity Transmission Lines posing threat to human lives, Utilization of non-operating contract period of ePoS devices with service provider, address by Lieutenant Governor to the Fourth Assembly Session (Budget Session), Availing OTP based e-signature service from CDAC for processing of fee bill of Govt. empanelled counsels on online single window system, ex-post-facto approval for engagement of 6380 ac low floor pure electric buses (2080 - 9 meter & 4300 12 meter) by transport department, redevelopment of existing Anand Vihar and Sarai Kale Khan Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBTs) by Delhi Metro, policy/scheme Guidelines for creation of a separate Budget Head for State Top-Up and provision of Top-Up Funds to Samagra Shiksha Delhi, Scheme for grant of Ex-gratia to War Widow, War Disabled, Prisoners of War / Missing person in War / Operations etc. of Defense Personnel, Incurring additional cost from state funds for free of cost distribution of sugar from January, 2023 to December, 2023 to AAY beneficiaries, ex-post Facto approval of Council of Ministers for payment to the agencies/vendors for spray of Pusa Bio-Decomposer Solution and transportation charges for management of paddy crop residue/stubble during 2020-21, 2021-22 & 2022-23.
Sources in the Delhi government said that the governance has taken a serious hit in important decisions, policy matters and public grievances. “Decisions of huge financial implications are just taken without deliberation and by dictation through circulation. Views are dictated from the top and the Ministers are made to sign blindly through circulation. The state of governance in Delhi is abysmal as reflected in every facet of administration. A perusal of the list of important decisions dictated from the top and decided through circulation will be testimonial as to how the Government is functioning. The plethora of scams and mis governance are order of the day and dictated from top. There is no semblance of governance in Delhi,” he said. Critics argue that this reliance on circulation undermines governance, with significant decisions—particularly those with financial implications—being made without thorough discussions. This approach has been described as akin to “postal coaching or correspondence courses,” raising alarms about the overall efficacy and transparency of Delhi’s administration.
In 2022 the major cabinet decisions include proposal related to ex-gratia relief to farmers in lieu of crops damage due to rains, proposal for enhancement of honorarium of Anganwadi Workers & Anganwadi Helpers, Amendment in section 6(1) of Delhi Electricity Reforms Act, 2000 and section 89(1) of the Electricity Act, 2003, Amendments to the Delhi Electric Vehicles Policy2020, ex-gratia relief to farmers in lieu of crops damaged due to unseasonal rains and strong winds during January 2022, , Proposal for outsourcing of laboratory services in Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMC) and setting up of its extension counters in government health facilities and proposal for “Azadi Ka Sapna” Exhibition in August 2022.
Besides, decisions related to Delhi Start Up policy by Industries department, Revision of Auto & Taxi Fare due to increase of CNG rates by transport department, Amendment in the Delhi Goods and Services Tax Act by finance department, Incurring Additional Cost from State funds for free ration distribution under NFSA from October, 2022 to December, 2022, Proposal for extension of existing agreement with M/s TCS for running the ESCIMS software of Excise Department, Taking over the Operation of Existing Metro Feeder E Buses under Delhi Metro.