Government ignores MHA order on SDMC CVO

After the BJP-led government at the Centre returned 14 bills to the city administration, the AAP government has hit back by refusing to accept Union home ministry’s order on the appointment of the chief vigilance officer in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation. The AAP government has gone a step further by appointing another officer as the CVO of SDMC.

It was on June 7 that the Union home ministry ordered the appointment of DANIPS officer Mangesh Kashyap as the CVO of the SDMC.

In an office memorandum, director (services) A.V. Dharma Reddy said: “The undersigned is directed to convey the approval of the competent authority for appointing of Mangesh Kashyap, DANIPS, presently in the Delhi police, as the chief vigilance officer in South Delhi Municipal Corporation for a period of three years, extendable by another two years, with specific concurrence of the Central Vigilance Commission. You are requested to issue appropriate order/notification.”

The copy of the memorandum, among others, has also been marked to the office of the lieutenant-governor, Delhi chief secretary, SDMC commissioner, police commissioner and director (local bodies) of the Urban Development Department. But the AAP government has reportedly rejected the MHA order and has instead proposed the name of 1998-batch IPS officer B.R. Meena for the post of the CVO in the SDMC. The Delhi government’s contention is that Mr Kashyap was neither an IPS officer nor he was senior enough to hold the high-profile post. The city government is also going to seek clearance of the CVC on the appointment of Mr Meena for the post of the CVO. A highly placed source said that the AAP government had proposed the name of Mr Meena and DANICS officer H.P.S. Sran for the job. Mr Meena’s name, however, did not figure in the city government’s list. But a separate list of officers prepared by the SDMC had recommended the name of Mr Mangesh for the post of the CVO. As per the procedure, the MHA clears the name of the CVO and the same is notified by the Delhi government. The final clearance for the said post is given by the mayor and the South Delhi Municipal Corporation Appointment Committee.