Delhi Lokayukta slams Sheila Dikshit

Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin Monday criticised Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for her and other cabinet minister's photographs being printed on Delhi government's loan application form.

Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) legislator Harsh Vardhan had complained that Sheila Dikshit and Raj Kumar Chauhan had been misusing public funds and the government machinery by getting their photographs printed on the loan application form under Delhi Swarojgar Yojna.

"The printing of loan application forms by Delhi's chief minister and Minister for Social Welfare and SC/ST Welfare Raj Kumar Chauhan for personal glorification is to get unfair advantage from the beneficiaries of the scheme," said Justice Sarin in his order.

"Printing their photographs on the application for loans amounts to abuse and misuse of power and authority. This conduct is in violation of the norms of integrity and conduct expected of public functionaries," he added.

Sarin also asked President Pranab Mukherjee to issue an advisory to Dikshit and Chauhan to desist from printing their photographs on the application forms.