223 employees of Delhi Commission for Women removed by Lt Governor

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• May 2, 2024 | Guriya Khatun

Citing the Delhi Commission for Women Act, the Lieutenant Governor's office issued an order stating that 223 new seats were created without the Lieutenant Governor's authority...

Digital Desk: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has fired 223 workers from the women's commission in the city as part of a significant purge. It is alleged that AAP MP Swati Maliwal broke the rules when she appointed people while serving as the chair of the Delhi Commission for Women. 

Citing the Delhi Commission for Women Act, the Lieutenant Governor's office issued an order stating that 223 new seats were created without the Lieutenant Governor's authority and that the panel has a sanctioned strength of 40 employees. Furthermore, the order declares that the commission lacks the power to hire workers under contract.

The order also says that the commission had been informed that they shall not take any step "which entails additional financial liability for the government" without the approval of the finance department.

A probe, it said, had found that these appointments were not made according to laid down procedures. "Further, the enhancement of the remuneration and allowances to the staff of DCW was without adequate justification and in violation of the laid down procedures and guidelines," it added.

Heading the Delhi Commission for Women for nine years, Ms. Maliwal is an AAP MP who entered the Rajya Sabha. There is currently a vacancy in the position of chairperson of the panel. As per the ruling, Ms. Maliwal was advised to obtain approval from the finance department for the appointments on multiple occasions. 

To the accusations, neither Ms. Maliwal nor the AAP have yet to reply. Later in the day, she will address the media. 

An additional source of contention over the management of the nation's capital is expected to arise from the crackdown between the ruling AAP and the Lieutenant Governor's office. 

The AAP has maintained that its governance steps are being obstructed by the office of the Lieutenant Governor. The AAP has claimed that the ruling BJP is preventing it from acting freely as the Lieutenant Governor is a centrally appointed position. 

This incident coincides with AAP leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's jail following his arrest for allegedly violating the city's now-scrapped liquor policy.