New L-G-AAP tussle: Appointing board of visitors for city’s prisons

In a enactment to Chief Minister Atishi, L-G V K Saxena termed it “disturbing” that the constitution of the Board had been pending for 5 years. He said it was “astonishing” that the record related to it was sent to him for support a time earlier it was scheduled to beryllium heard successful the HC.

The AAP alleged that contempt the HC’s directions, the record related to it was “never enactment up” to the Minister and demanded enactment against the civilian servants concerned.

Saxena wrote successful his note, “… Hon’ble HC had passed an bid successful September 2019 giving wide directions to represent the Board of Visitors wrong 12 weeks, and (it) should person accordingly been constituted, by January 2020…”
“… the proposal… was archetypal approved by the past Minister (Home)… aft a lapse of a twelvemonth successful September 2020, whereafter it was rightly pointed… it requires support of the L-G… It is astonishing that the file, aft a lapse of 4 years, has present reached maine for support contiguous i.e. 30.09.2024…,” helium added.

Alleging this underlined an “utter deficiency of seriousness” regarding a substance “concerning basal quality rights”, Saxena termed it “disturbing” that the notification which had been enactment up for support earlier him had seen the substitution of the District and Sessions Judge arsenic its seat to the District Magistrate.

“… the Hon’ble High Court… directed the Home Secretary to represent the Board… earlier the adjacent day of proceeding —11.09.2024. In that hearing… aft overmuch confusion… arsenic to wherever is the record pending, the Hon’ble Court directed the Home Minister… to record an affidavit and the Home Secretary… to beryllium contiguous connected the adjacent day of proceeding i.e October 1… the record has been received successful this bureau connected 30.09.2024, a time earlier hearing…,” helium added.

“… It is evident that it has present go a signifier of GNCTD counsel to marque a connection that the record is ‘lying with’ the Lt-Governor for decision, thereby attributing delays to this Secretariat… I instrumentality beardown objection of this approach…,” helium said.

Returning the file, the L-G directed that shortcomings successful the notification beryllium rectified and the lasting counsel “present this enactment to the Hon’ble HC to bring the close representation of wherever the responsibility lies arsenic acold arsenic hold is concerned”.

Reacting to the development, AAP alleged that “L-G Saab has nary different enactment isolated from firing astatine immoderate ministers of Delhi”. “He is caput of ‘Services’. Action should beryllium taken against officers who circulated these files without putting it up to the minister…,” it said.

“This record is signed by the Principal Secretary Home, by the Chief Secretary. What were they doing? Were they misleading ministers connected purpose?” AAP asked.