The ‘One-Time Settlement’ scheme brought by the Delhi government to provide relief to water consumers of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has been blocked by the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Urban Development Department. Delhi’s Urban Development Minister Shri Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the ‘One-Time Settlement’ (OTS) scheme is being introduced to provide relief in water bills to 10 lakh consumers of DJB. The ACS of the Urban Development Department was directed to propose it in the cabinet, but he outrightly refused to do so. The ACS (UD) was also informed that comments from the Finance Minister have been received, but he refused to acknowledge them as well, stating that the Finance Ministry means the Principal Secretary of the Finance Department. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Atishi stated that the authority to make decisions on any policy under all rules and laws lies with the cabinet. If the proposal doesn’t come to the cabinet, how will the policy be made? The LG has been informed about this constitutional crisis and he has stated that the proposal should come to the cabinet. Upon his suggestion, we have sent the cabinet note file to the Chief Secretary.
Delhi’s Urban Development Minister Shri Saurabh Bharadwaj said that approximately 10 lakh consumers of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), out of a total of 27 lakh, have pending arrears. The main reason for this is that most consumers believe that their bill has come higher than their water usage. There are discrepancies in the readings based on which consumers’ water bills are generated. The meter reader did not take readings of those consumers’ meters. This problem increased significantly during the corona period. Because during the time of corona, meter readers did not visit people’s homes and instead sent water bills based on an average rate from their offices.
“There was also a significant portion of consumers who, even during corona, were not staying in their homes and did not use water. Yet, bills were still generated for their water usage. If someone has not used water and a bill is sent to them, they do not want to pay the bill. Typically, such consumers think that the matter should be resolved first, and once the correct bill arrives, it should be paid. Many complaints of this nature were made in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), but the Finance Department of the Delhi Jal Board did not resolve their issues. The resolution of complaints was so low that this problem gradually reached nearly 10.5 lakh consumers,” the Delhi Urban Development Minister stated.
Minister Shri Saurabh Bharadwaj further added that while finding a solution to this problem of consumers, the DJB had come up with a ‘One-Time Settlement Scheme’. The policy was approved in the meeting of the DJB, and preparations are being made to present it in the cabinet. “Since the administrative department of the DJB falls under the Urban Development Department, as the Urban Development Minister, I instructed the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Urban Development Department to present this policy proposal before the cabinet. However, it is quite surprising that the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department refused to present this proposal in the cabinet,” he added.
The Urban Development Minister shared, “When I, while giving written orders, mentioned that Finance Minister Atishi has also commented on this policy proposal and you have also received approval from the Finance Department, therefore, present this proposal before the cabinet. Upon this, the ACS said that he doesn’t consider the approval of the Finance Minister as the approval of the Finance Department. The Finance Ministry means the Principal Secretary of the Finance Department, not the Finance Minister. Meaning, the officers are the ministry, not the minister. By saying this, he refused to bring this proposal before the cabinet.”
“Today, after the speech of LG Sir in the assembly, we discussed this matter with him. During this, CM Shri Arvind Kejriwal and Finance Minister Atishi were also present. It was decided in this discussion that this cabinet note should be sent to the Chief Secretary of Delhi and it should be instructed to present this proposal before the cabinet as soon as possible. It should be brought before the cabinet at the beginning of next week. This cabinet note has been sent to the Chief Secretary,” the Urban Development Minister concluded.
Addressing the press conference, Finance Minister Atishi said, “Four days ago, Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj instructed the UD department to table Delhi Jal Board’s ‘one-time settlement scheme’ for water bills in front of the council of ministers. According to the Indian Constitution, GNCTD Act, and transaction of business rules, only the council of ministers has the right to make any policy decisions. So, if a ‘one-time settlement scheme’ is being introduced, then it has to be approved and decided by the council of ministers.”
She added that today, the ACS of Urban Development is refusing to table the proposal for the scheme in front of the council of ministers. If such a high-ranking official refuses to table the proposal in front of the Council of Ministers, then how will the Council of Ministers decide on policy matters and make policies? The refusal of an official to table the proposal for any policy in front of the council of ministers is a ‘constitutional crisis’.
Ms. Atishi said, “The UD secretary has blatantly refused to accept the orders of the UD minister and comments of the Finance Minister. That is why today we raised the issue of this constitutional crisis in front of the LG in the Vidhan Sabha after his speech. He is the constitutional head of Delhi, which is why CM Arvind Kejriwal, UD Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Finance Minister gave the arguments that the government can’t be run in a situation like this. If such a constitutional crisis is created in the system, officials will not accept the orders of the ministers; then it becomes difficult to run the government.
The Finance Minister added that LG after the discussion suggested that the proposal should be tabled before the council of ministers. As per the suggestion of Honourable LG, UD Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has sent the file on the scheme to the Chief Secretary and directed him that early next week, this scheme should be tabled before the council of ministers.
“We hope that as per the orders of LG and the UD Minister, the Chief Secretary will ensure that the scheme is tabled soon before the council of ministers,” she said.
She further stated, “Today, I would like to inform the people of Delhi why this constitutional crisis is happening. This is because of the amendment in the GNCTD act because of which officials think that they do not need to agree to the orders of the elected government. Officials are scared that all their work is monitored by the BJP-led central government, so if they work for the Delhi Government, their performance will be put under the scanner by the central government.”
Ms. Atishi said that LG has given us assurance that he will not let such a constitutional crisis come to Delhi. “I hope that his instructions will be followed, and the proposal for the ‘one-time settlement scheme’ for water bills will be tabled soon before the council of ministers,” she concluded.
