Government house given for camp office, says Maliwal on Shunglu report

After the Shunglu Committee accused the Delhi government of abuse of power in allotting a bungalow to DCW chief Swati Maliwal, she said on Thursday that the house was meant to be used as a camp office for public welfare and the Lt. Governor can take it away if he desires.

"Get salary of Rs 30,000. Government gave (the) house for DCW camp office as women come at odd hours (for complaints). The Shunglu report says the L-G should have given the house, not the CM," Maliwal tweeted.

"The issue of (whether) the L-G or the CM has powers is sub judice in the Supreme Court. However, if the L-G feels the DCW doesn't need round-the-clock camp office, (he) can take it away," Maliwal said in another tweet.

The three-member committee headed by former Comptroller and Auditor General V.K. Shunglu was set up by the then Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung in August 2016 to look into the AAP government's functioning after Delhi High Court gave primacy to the L-G in Delhi's administrative affairs.

It submitted its report to the Lieutenant Governor in November 2016, weeks before Jung resigned on December 22.

The committee questioned the allotment of a bungalow to the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief, saying rules were not followed in the process.

"Maliwal was provided accommodation, though in the ordinary course she was not entitled to it as per the provisions of the DCW... a residuary provision can be invoked in a case as an exception to the general rule, but only the Lt. Governor can approve such an exception. However, in this case, the Lt. Governor's approval was not taken," the panel said.

--IANS

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