The decision of Delhi LG Vinai Saxena to dissolve DDCD and remove its three non-official members is illegal, unconstitutional and a brazen violation of the jurisdiction of his office. DDCD comes under the Chief Minister of Delhi and only he has powers to take action on its members. LG’s sole purpose in dissolving DDCD is to stop all the works of Delhi government, which has been his singular contribution to the governance of Delhi ever since he assumed office. We will challenge this illegal order of the LG in the courts.
DDCD was constituted vide gazette notification dt. 29.04.2016, which was approved by the then Lt. Governor of Delhi. A plain reading of sections 3 and 8 of the notification reads that non-official members of DDCD are appointed solely by the decision of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Delhi and only he has powers to remove any of the members before the completion of their term. However, in brazen disregard of existing rules and laws as well as decisions of his predecessors, LG Vinai Saxena acting in collusion with officers of the Services Department, has chosen to exceed the jurisdiction of his office and tried to usurp the powers of the elected Chief Minister of Delhi by taking action on DDCD. It is categorically stated that the appointment process for Vice Chairperson and Members of DDCD is similar to the process followed for public commissions in all state governments across India, including in BJP governments.
The sole purpose of LG Vinai Saxena’s illegal order is to stop all works and policy reforms being carried out by the Kejriwal Government. In the process of hating the elected government under CM Arvind Kejriwal, LG Vinai Saxena has started hating the people of Delhi. He very well knows that DDCD, which acts as the policy think-tank of Delhi government, has played a key role in shaping the Delhi Model of governance over the years. As detailed in the 2022 report published by DDCD titled “7 Years of DDC: 70 Innovations Redefining Governance”, DDCD has made a defining contribution in shaping many of the flagship policies and welfare schemes of GNCTD such as Delhi EV Policy 2020, Delhi Solar Policy 2016 and 2024, Delhi’s Rozgar Bazaar initiative, One Delhi app for public transport, conceiving a decentralized model for upgrading Delhi’s street infrastructure (CCTVs and street lights), streamlining Delhi’s ambulance system during Covid, setting up e-Coupon system for ration delivery during Covid, Green Delhi mobile app for addressing pollution related complaints etc. among several others.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time that LG Vinai Saxena has attacked the DDCD. Earlier, in November 2022, acting in a similar haste and brazen disregard of the jurisdiction of his office, LG Vinai Saxena ordered the sealing of the office of Vice Chairperson of DDCD, Shri Jasmine Shah. The illegal order of the LG was challenged by Shri Jasmine Shah in the Delhi High Court and the matter is currently sub-judice. When the LG sought to further precipitate action on Shri Jasmine Shah, the same was stayed by the Hon’ble Hight Court since the matter was deemed to be sub-judice. It is all the more shocking, therefore, that the LG has now decided to dissolve DDCD itself, while his action on DDCD Vice Chairperson, Shri Jasmine Shah, is still sub-judice in the Delhi High Court.
