Delhi Lokayukta issues notice to Dikshit for hoardings

Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin Wednesday issued notice to Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and her Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami for putting up their posters in public places.

He also sought an explanation from the duo why an inquiry should not be initiated against them.

S.K. Saxena, director of NGO Nispaksh, had complained to the ombudsman over posters, banners and hoardings put up by workers of political parties and public functionaries.

Saxena had submitted a list of 14 Municipal Council of Delhi (MCD) councillors and eight legislators, including Dikshit and Goswami.

"Let notices issue to show cause as to why an inquiry should not be conducted against the said public functionaries for alleged violation of the provisions of Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act 2007 and Delhi Lokayukta and Uplokayukta Act 1995," the Lokayukta said.

"From the perusal of the documents and material placed on record, it is seen that the concerned public functionaries, i.e. councillors and MLAs, have prima facie contravened the provisions of Sub Section 2 of Section 3 of Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007," he further stated.

Sarin said political parties were vying with each other in their claims of developing Delhi into a "first class metropolis" or a "world class city". However, they were reluctant to join efforts to impose self-regulation in putting up boards, hoardings and banners, he added.