In yet one more flashpoint between the 2 energy centres that administer the Capital, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor V Okay Saxena Thursday dissolved the Dialogue and Improvement Fee of Delhi (DDCD), the Aam Aadmi Celebration (AAP)’s flagship assume tank and advisory physique.
This comes as one other blow to the AAP, which is dealing with a management vacuum with each celebration supremo and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his former second-in-command, Manish Sisodia, in jail.
What’s the DDCD?
The DDCD is a coverage assume tank arrange by the Kejriwal authorities in 2015, after it got here to energy in Delhi for the primary time with an enormous majority, on the traces of the Centre’s Planning Fee and NITI Aayog. Seen as an official extension of the “dialogues” with residents that was a part of the AAP’s election sport plan, the DDCD was meant to comprise area specialists, and assist “contemplate concepts, determine one of the best practices and insurance policies from all over the world” and translate these into “concrete suggestions” to the Delhi authorities for “transformative change”.
Through the years, the AAP authorities has claimed that the assume tank performed a key position in shaping the “Delhi mannequin of governance”.
Kejriwal served because the assume tank’s chairperson. It additionally comprised a vice-chairperson and different non-official members. Their phrases have been to coincide with that of the incumbent authorities and their appointments have been made by Kejriwal.
What are among the measures undertaken by the DDCD?
In keeping with the Delhi authorities, the fee labored on a number of key AAP authorities initiatives through the years.
These embrace the Delhi’s Rozgar Bazaar portal, a platform bringing collectively employers and staff that was conceived and created in July 2020 as an emergency response throughout Covid-19 to assist each side affected by the lockdown; in addition to the One Delhi App, which helps monitor stay location of public buses and facilitate contactless ticketing, amongst different amenities.
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The AAP authorities says the DDCD additionally conceptualised the Delhi Electrical Car Coverage, launched in August 2020, for mass adoption of electrical automobiles to scale back vehicular air air pollution in Delhi. The fee has helped the Delhi Transport Division operationalise ‘faceless transport companies’, involving digitisation of 33 transport-related companies akin to getting a licence. The DDCD claims to have benefited 22 lakh customers by way of this undertaking.
Why was the DDCD shut down?
LG Saxena has alleged that the DDCD was created “solely to increase monetary advantages” and patronage to “sure favoured political individuals” on the “whims and fancies” of Kejriwal, as solely the CM accepted its members until a mechanism was developed for “screening and choice of area specialists as its vice-chairman and members”.
Saxena additionally questioned why the positions within the Fee that earlier began out as honorary have been later transformed in order to contain “excessive” salaries and perks. The DDCD vice-chairperson, for example, occupies the rank, pay and amenities equal to a Delhi authorities minister, whereas its non-official members get pleasure from perks similar to a Secretary working for the Authorities of India.
The L-G alleged that there had been “no clear course of” of identification, screening and choice of appropriate candidates to occupy the physique and that these positions had been stuffed in an “arbitrary” method with out following due course of.
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Saxena added that the shutdown was “non permanent”, until appointments to it might be made “as per guidelines”.
How has the AAP reacted to the transfer?
The AAP has termed Saxena’s transfer “unlawful” and mentioned it aimed to cease “all works and coverage reforms” being carried out by its authorities. The celebration additionally threatened to maneuver courtroom over the problem.
The AAP has additionally justified that because the assume tank’s important member and CM, solely Kejriwal has the authority to take any motion on appointments and dissolution.
The federal government has additionally said that the appointment course of for the DDCD vice-chairperson and members is “much like the method adopted for public commissions in all state governments throughout India, together with in BJP governments”.
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Has DDCD been concerned in different rows?
In November 2022, Saxena had ordered the sealing of the workplace of DDCD vice- chairperson Jasmine Shah over allegations that he had used the workplace for political functions.
The AAP challenged the transfer within the Delhi Excessive Court docket. The matter remains to be being heard.
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