On joining day, DCW rejects Dilraj Kaur as Member Secretary

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Wednesday rejected the joining report of Dilraj Kaur who has been appointed as the new Member Secretary by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.

The rejection by the DCW came after a letter written by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on December 9 where he nullified appointment of social welfare secretary of  Women and Child Development, Delhi Government.

“I am sending a copy of this note to the Chief Secretary and Chairperson. DCW to wait for the final outcome in the mater and not implement your directions to give charge of member secretary to Dilraj Kaur,” wrote Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal addressing the Lieutenant Governor.

The Chief Minister further added: “In the meantime, P P Dhal who is a retired joint director from the WCD department will hold the charge in the officiating capacity.”

Citing the order by the Chief Minister of not accepting the joining of Dilraj Kaur as a member secretary, DCW Chief Swati Maliwal wrote a letter to Dilraj Kaur on Wednesday. 

Maliwal stated: “P P Dhal has already assumed the charge and is presently working as a member secretary on officiating basis. Your joining as Member Secretary despite the clear decision by the Government of Delhi is illegal and cannot be accepted. Your non compliance of the Chief Minister’s orders will be viewed adversely both by the Delhi Government and the Delhi Commission.”

Swati Maliwal had termed the appointment of Dilraj Kaur as a step by the L-G to close down DCW.

“We have been prevented from doing work towards welfare and security of women in Delhi. There are rapes of minors which are happening in the city. Instead of tackling this huge problem and help in forming a high -level committee, the L-G is more interested in throttling the autonomy of DCW,” mentioned Maliwal.

In mentioning her choice as a member secretary, DCW chief said: “Rather than looking for a government figure we can also look at people from different fields. The key qualification of the member secretary should be that she or he should deal the issues of women and minors in the city sensitively.”