Lokayukta wants censure of former councillor
11 July 2012 1:22 AM GMT
Delhi Lokayukta on Tuesday recommended to the Lt Governor to censure a former BJP councillor, who was purportedly seen demanding money for allowing illegal construction in a sting operation, for her ‘misconduct’.
‘Municipal Councillor Manju Gupta has misconducted herself and has transgressed the norms of integrity and conduct,’ Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin said in his order while expressing ‘great dismay’ at the growing menace of unauthorised construction.
The Lokayukta had taken cognisance of a sting operation on a news channel had last year that showed Manju Gupta and seven other councillors demanding money for allowing illegal constructions.
Gupta and other councillors were suspended from their respective parties and also denied re-nomination in the April Municipal elections.
Sarin said it was found that the willingness of the Councillor to ‘encourage and facilitate’ unauthorised and illegal construction is writ large in the conversation recorded in the transcript.
‘While recommending that the Respondent [Manju Gupta] be administered a Censure by the Competent Authority [Lt. Governor], this Forum is conscious of the fact that the Respondent is no longer holding the post of Councillor,’ Sarin said in his report.
‘At present, the respondent is not an elected Councillor. However, it would be appreciated that while there will be some reduction in the clout of the Councillor when holding office and otherwise,’ he said.
In his order, the Lokayukta also expressed ‘great dismay’ at the growing menace of unauthorised construction which has ‘prevaded’ the capital city of Delhi and observed that it has entered the very blood stream of Delhi.
He said the unabated growth of unauthorised construction is due to lack of enforcement and implementation of the municipal laws on account of complicity of the municipal staff.
Eight councillors - six from BJP and two from Congress, including a former Mayor - were caught on camera in the sting operation, following which they were suspended from their parties. While cases relating to six councillors have been disposed of, those against two others are pending.
‘Municipal Councillor Manju Gupta has misconducted herself and has transgressed the norms of integrity and conduct,’ Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin said in his order while expressing ‘great dismay’ at the growing menace of unauthorised construction.
The Lokayukta had taken cognisance of a sting operation on a news channel had last year that showed Manju Gupta and seven other councillors demanding money for allowing illegal constructions.
Gupta and other councillors were suspended from their respective parties and also denied re-nomination in the April Municipal elections.
Sarin said it was found that the willingness of the Councillor to ‘encourage and facilitate’ unauthorised and illegal construction is writ large in the conversation recorded in the transcript.
‘While recommending that the Respondent [Manju Gupta] be administered a Censure by the Competent Authority [Lt. Governor], this Forum is conscious of the fact that the Respondent is no longer holding the post of Councillor,’ Sarin said in his report.
‘At present, the respondent is not an elected Councillor. However, it would be appreciated that while there will be some reduction in the clout of the Councillor when holding office and otherwise,’ he said.
In his order, the Lokayukta also expressed ‘great dismay’ at the growing menace of unauthorised construction which has ‘prevaded’ the capital city of Delhi and observed that it has entered the very blood stream of Delhi.
He said the unabated growth of unauthorised construction is due to lack of enforcement and implementation of the municipal laws on account of complicity of the municipal staff.
Eight councillors - six from BJP and two from Congress, including a former Mayor - were caught on camera in the sting operation, following which they were suspended from their parties. While cases relating to six councillors have been disposed of, those against two others are pending.
Next Story
