HC rejects plea against Centre's steps on Lokayukta report on

The Delhi High Court today rejected the allegation that the Centre had diluted a report of Lokayukta against Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, saying the procedure followed by the competent authority in cautioning the officials instead of Dikshit was not "faulty".
The Lokayukta report, which had recommended the President issue a "caution" to Dikshit, was referred to the competent authority (President) who had sought views of the Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister.
However, on receiving their views, the Ministry of Home Affairs had passed the order cautioning the officials of Delhi Government instead of Dikshit on November 11, 2011.
The Home Ministry was of the view that there was no evidence of any malafide intention on the part of Chief Minister at the time of giving statement on completion of 60,000 low-cost flats before 2008 assembly elections.

Dismissing petitioner advocate Sunita Bhardwaj's argument that the competent authority did not follow the procedure while dealing with the Lokayukta report as she was not called to give her representation, a bench of justices B D Ahmed and Vibhu Bakhru said "the course adopted in the present case is in consonance with the principle of nature justice and the procedure followed by the competent authority cannot be regarded as faulty."
The Lokayukta report had recommended to the President issuance of "caution" to Dikshit for allegedly misrepresenting facts about the completion of 60,000 low-cost flats ahead of the 2008 assembly polls.