DCW flays Jung on 'illegal' appointment of Member-Secretary

The DCW on Wednesday locked horns with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and accused him of meddling in its functioning and attacking its autonomy by ordering for the "illegal" appointment of the commission's Member-Secretary.

"The appointment of the Member-Secretary is unconstitutional and illegal as due procedure has not been followed," a Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) statement said here.

It said Women and Child Development (WCD) Department Secretary Dilraj Kaur was appointed to the DCW without seeking Delhi government's consent and called the move "unprecedented".

Kaur continues to be the Department Secretary and hold additional charge of DCW Member- Secretary.

The commission said it refused to accept the appointment and pointed out the conflict of interest that will arise with such appointment.

"The commission almost constantly issues notices to the WCD on issues relating to serious lapses at shelter homes like Nari Niketan, Nirmal Chaya etc., rehabilitation scheme for victims, setting up of creches and also monitors various functions of the WCD," the statement said.

"Kaur's appointment is an attempt to attack DCW's autonomy and independence. The Lieutenant Governor though his actions is scuttling its functioning," the panel added.

The Commission said Jung earlier appointed one Alka Dewan, during whose two-month tenure the "three-month salaries of the entire contractual staff of the commission... were withheld".

The statement quoted DCW Chairperson Swati Maliwal as saying: "The Lieutenant Governor should focus on ensuring the safety of women and children in Delhi and not concentrate his energies on devising new ways to scuttle DCW functioning."

The DCW law allows for the appointment of a Member-Secretary from among the members of the central civil service, apart from one Chairperson and five other members.

--IANS

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