HC dismisses plea on report cautioning Dikshit

The Delhi High Court Friday dismissed a plea which claimed that a Lokayukta report suggesting "cautioning" of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was "diluted".

The Lokayukta report recommended to the president of India to issue "caution" to Dikshit for allegedly misrepresenting facts about the completion of 60,000 low-cost flats ahead of the 2008 assembly polls.

A division bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Vibhu Bakhru rejected the plea filed by advocate Sunita Bhardwaj, and said that the procedure followed by the competent authority can not be regarded as "faulty".

According to the petition, the competent authority (union home ministry) instead of "cautioning" Dikshit, "diluted" the report of the Lokayukta and asked the city government officials to be more careful in future.

Bhardwaj had contended that the Lokayukta report, suggesting that the authorities caution Dikshit, was diluted and sought setting aside of an order of the competent authority.

The Delhi Lokayukta July 18, 2011, sent a report to the lieutenant governor, who sent it to the president, recommending the issuance of caution against Dikshit and advising her to be more careful while issuing statements for publication.

Despite knowing that the 60,000 flats were incomplete, Dikshit allegedly made the announcement that they were ready, the petition said.