Delhi L-G VK Saxena writes to chief secretary over delay sharing cabinet notes

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena has written to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar over the delay in sharing cabinet notes.

Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena has written to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar about the delay in sharing cabinet notes. L-G Saxena’s note alleged that Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government was regularly violating the crucial Transaction of Business of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Rules, 1993 (ToBR).

Out of the 234 proposals considered by the Cabinet in their meeting from April 2020 to July 15, 2022, 79 proposals were received in the L-G Secretariat a day before the scheduled meeting of the Cabinet, and 63 were received on the same day of the meeting and 40 such proposals were received after the Cabinet meeting was held.

The L-G said it was clear that the compliance of the ToBR in this matter happened only in 22% of the cases, while in 78% of instances the ToBR was violated without any justification.

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The L-G Secretariat has written to the chief secretary, who is also secretary to the Cabinet, to look into the issue and ensure adherence to the laid down statutory provisions of the ToBR, both in letter and spirit. A copy of the same has been sent to the secretary to the chief minister as well.

Provisions of Rule 11 and Sub-Rule (3) of Rule 13 of the ToBR provide that a copy of the memorandums/proposals and Cabinet notes to be considered by the Council of Ministers/Cabinet be made available to the LG Secretariat at least two days before the scheduled date of the meeting. The note observed that a significant number of such memorandums/proposals/Cabinet notes were received just prior to the scheduled meeting of the Cabinet or even after the conclusion of such meetings, without recording any reason for the transgression of the ToBR.