Page 27 - Delhi Government

Delhi LG asks chief secy to submit monthly civic infra inspection report

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has directed Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar to submit a monthly report on the inspections conducted by senior officers in the aftermath of deaths due to "complete collapse of civic infrastructure" this monsoon, officials said on Monday. In a written communication to the chief secretary, Ashish Kundra, the principal Secretary to Saxena, said the LG has advised that an "institutionalised mechanism be put in place for scheduled inspections" by senior officers of facilities under their charge. "It would help them obtain a first-hand feel of the core problems being faced by citizens and take corrective policy or regulatory measures. The chief secretary shall circulate a uniform format of inspection report to all departments and submit a monthly report on number of inspections done by each officer," read the letter. Kundra also pointed out that even the Delhi High Court has taken a serious note in the matter of desilting of drains in the national capita

Delhi LG calls drains condition appalling, says result of years of neglect

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday said the condition of drains in the national capital is the result of "years of neglect". On August 4, Saxena inspected three arterial drains -- Barapulla, Kushak, and Sunehri -- and flagged their state as "appalling" and noted that they were filled with silt and debris. In a post on X, Saxena said, "The city's major drains, clogged with silt and garbage, are mainly responsible for the waterlogging and the resulting hellish conditions in Delhi every year. This condition of Delhi's drains is, clearly, the result of years of neglect and negligence". Saxena noted that the Barapulla, Kushak, and Sunehri drains alone are responsible for draining the water from 24 per cent of the entire Delhi area, "but these drains are not able to work even at 10 per cent of their capacity". "The reason is clear. The cleaning work started after my visit on August 4 and in the last 10 days more than 1200 MT of silt has been removed from these drains," he ...

Imams of Delhi WAQF allege non-payment of salary, demand investigation

Government's substantial grant to the WAQF board has not helped in timely payments for the Imams

Delhi excise scam: Court extends custody of Kejriwal, K Kavitha till Sept 2

A court here on Tuesday extended till September 2 the judicial custody of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BRS leader K Kavitha and others in a money-laundering case related to the alleged excise scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended the custody of the accused after they were produced before the court through a video-conference on the expiry of the period of their judicial custody granted earlier. The Supreme Court had earlier granted interim bail to Kejriwal in the case. However, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader continues to be lodged in the Tihar jail here as he has not furnished the bail bond in the case. The Delhi chief minister is in judicial custody in a corruption case lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the alleged scam.

L-G nominates Delhi HM Kailash Gahlot to hoist national flag on I-Day

Lt Governor VK Saxena on Tuesday nominated Delhi Home Minister Kailash Gahlot to hoist the national flag at the state Independence Day event, officials at Raj Niwas said. The choice that bypasses several other senior government leaders is likely to set a stage for another round of tussle between the AAP dispensation and the LG Secretariat. "Lieutenant Governor is pleased to nominate Minister (Home), GNCTD, Kailash Gahlot to unfurl the National Flag at the State level Independence day celebrations at Chhatrasaal Stadium. Necessary arrangements may be made accordingly," LG's secretary Ashish Kundra said in a written communication to Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar. Earlier in the day, the Delhi government's general administration department refused to implement department minister Gopal Rai's direction for the hosting of national flag by Education Minister Atishi.

Elected min should hoist tricolour, politics over it unfortunate: Sisodia

Amid a controversy over who hoists the flag at the Delhi government's Independence Day ceremony here, senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia Tuesday assailed Lt Governor V K Saxena, saying there should be no problem with an elected minister doing it. The Delhi government's General Administration Department (GAD) has refused to comply with its minister Gopal Rai's direction to make arrangements for Education Minister Atishi to hoist the national flag as per a letter by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to the LG. However, the LG office has maintained that no letter from Kejriwal, who is in judicial custody, has been received. Tihar jail authorities have said the CM's letter was not sent to the LG because it was not permitted according to prison rules. Sisodia said it is "very unfortunate" that "such petty politics" is being done on the auspicious occasion of Independence Day. "I read in the papers that when a conman Sukesh writes letter, the Tihar administration duly submits it to the LG ...

'Wrong to expect democracy from LG': Manish Sisodia on flag hoisting row

A fresh row erupted between the Delhi government and the LG after jailed CM Kejriwal informed Saxena that Minister Atishi will hoist the national flag during the government's Independence Day event

CM Kejriwal cannot direct Atishi to hoist national flag on Aug 15: GAD

Amid uncertainty over who will hoist the national flag during the official Delhi government function on Independence Day, the General Administration Department (GAD) here said Tuesday Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail in a corruption case, cannot authorise minister Atishi to do so on his behalf. GAD Minister Gopal Rai Monday directed the department to make arrangements for Atishi to unfurl the flag as the chief minister "desires". Responding to the minister's communication, GAD additional chief secretary Navin Kumar Chaudhary said the CM's direction is "legally invalid and cannot be acted upon". The GAD officer has also said the chief minister's communication to Lt Governor V K Saxena on August 6 in this regard was "not permissible" according to the prison rules. Chaudhary said preparations for the Independence Day function of the Delhi government was underway at its regular Chhatrasal Stadium venue. As the CM in judicial custody and not available to hoist the flag, the

Delhi excise case: Court extends Kejriwal's judicial custody till Aug 20

A Delhi court on Thursday extended the judicial custody of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal till August 20 in a corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the alleged excise scam. Special Judge Kaveri Baweja extended Kejriwal's custody after he was produced before the court through video conference. The court is likely to consider on August 12 a supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI against Kejriwal in the case.

NHRC issues notice to Delhi govt over death of inmates at shelter home

The NHRC on Saturday said it has issued notices to the Delhi government and the city's police chief over reports alleging that 12 inmates died within a month at a shelter home in Rohini. The death of inmates, in such a large number within a short period, indicates "negligence on the part of the authorities", the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement. The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that 12 inmates died between July 15 and July 31 at the Delhi government-run shelter home -- Asha Kiran -- for people with mental impairment, it said. Reportedly, they included 10 women and two men. Their symptoms were similar that is loose motion and vomiting. Several other inmates are reportedly undergoing treatment at a hospital, the commission said. According to data of the medical care unit of the shelter home, in July, 54 inmates were sent outside the facility for treatment. This has "caused alarm and revived allegations of neglect and poor living conditions

2020 Delhi riots: Court acquits six men accused of theft, arson charges

A court here has acquitted six men who were accused of committing arson, rioting and theft during the 2020 communal riots in northeast Delhi. Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala was hearing the case against them. It was alleged that they looted, vandalised and torched a house in Shiv Vihar on February 25, 2020. Later, a complaint about a clinic being set ablaze was also clubbed with this case. In an order passed on Friday, the court observed that the prosecution had submitted the digital video recorder (DVR) as evidence against the accused. "However, no witness is there to identify any of the accused persons in the videos," the court said. It said the investigating officer (IO) of the case did not take any steps to confirm the appearance of any of the accused in the video clips through scientific examination or by comparing the video with the specimen picture of the accused persons. "Thus, there is no evidence at all to establish that accused persons are appearing in tho

UPSC aspirants' deaths: Protest against coaching centres enters 7th day

The students have been protesting since July 27, when three civil services aspirants lost their lives in the basement of Rau's Rau's IAS Circle after rainwater gushed into it

MCD seals two basements for violating rules, issues notice to owners

The civic body sealed the two basements in the Shahdara South Zone and Najafagarh Zone, according to a press release

Delhi govt starts preparations to control air pollution during winters

On August 21, 'Save Environment' Round Table Conference will be organized with environmental experts at the Delhi Secretariat, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai stated

13 children die in last 20 days at Delhi's Asha Kiran shelter; order probe

Deaths at shelter home: So far, 27 deaths have been reported at the government-run facility for the specially abled since January this year

UPSC aspirants continue protests against coaching centres in Delhi

The protests follow the deaths of three civil service aspirants after a basement library at Rau's IAS campus was flooded

UPSC aspirants hold election to select delegation for talks with officials

Civil services aspirants enrolled in various institutes on Thursday held a spot election in central Delhi's coaching hub of Old Rajinder Nagar to select a core committee to represent them in talks with authorities. However, the final selection was yet to be made amid commotion during the election process. A 10-15-member panel will be selected as the official delegation for negotiating with the authorities on the students' demands. A crowd of students gathered outside Rau's IAS Study Circle, where three civil services aspirants died after its basement was flooded on July 27, as the hopefuls pitched for their election to the committee. The audience voted for their preferred candidates by raising their hands. The candidates vying to become part of the delegation spoke about the issues that they would raise in the meetings. Their concerns included lopsided safety measures, poor living conditions and exorbitant rents, among others, affecting the daily lives of aspirants. "Due to the

Swati Maliwal case: Supreme Court grills Kejriwal aide Bibhav Kumar

Is this kind of goon supposed to work in the CM's residence, the Supreme Court asked on Thursday as it came down heavily on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar who allegedly assaulted AAP MP Swati Maliwal earlier this year. A bench of Justices Surya Kant, Dipankar Datta and Ujjal Bhuyan posted Kumar's bail plea for next Wednesday and told senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi that the court was shocked with the details of the incident recorded by the Delhi High Court. Kumar has challenged the July 12 order of the Delhi High Court denying him bail in the case and claimed the allegations against him are false. He has also said his custody was no longer required as the probe was over. The apex notice issued notice to the Delhi government on his plea. "Is CM residence a private bungalow? Is this kind of 'goon' supposed to work in the CM's residence?" the bench asked Singhvi, who said there were non-serious injuries and the FIR was lodged after three days of the incident

Delhi private and govt schools to remain closed today due to heavy rainfall

As per the Delhi Education Minister Atishi, all schools in the national capital, both government and private will stay shut today, on August 1, in view of heavy rainfall and waterlogging

Encroachment of drains widespread, law needed to tackle problem: Delhi CS

The problem of encroachment of drains in the city is so "widespread" that it cannot be resolved without a proper legislative framework, Delhi Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has said. Kumar cited the Old Rajinder Nagar incident in which three civil services aspirants drowned in the flooded basement library of a coaching centre. In his reply to a note of Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Tuesday, the chief secretary requested him to move the file on drainage plan recommendations for Delhi, including need of a 'Storm Water and Drainage Act for Delhi' so that draft of the legislation could be initiated by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department. The recommended 'Storm Water and Drainage Act' is proposed to have provisions for penalties on encroachment, dumping of construction, municipal and industrial solid waste in the city's drains. Kumar in his reply to Bharadwaj, who is also Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC)Minister, said that the file was pending with him since .