North MCD prevents staff, Councillors from attending Delhi govt functions

In a direct confrontation with the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government, the BJP-ruled North Delhi Municipal Corporation has asked its staff and Councillors not to attend functions of the Delhi government departments and its MLAs.

The Corporation, after passing a resolution, said that in cases where it is unavoidable or the protocol has to be maintained, the MCD staff will have to seek permission from the MCD’s top offices and bypassing the resolution will invite administrative action. The resolution comes after a report of manhandling of a senior MCD official by one of the Delhi government’s minister surfaced earlier this week. The Corporation has reportedly decided to lodge a police complaint against the minister also.

Introducing the resolution before the House of the North MCD, Mayor Dr Sanjeev Nayyar said that lawmakers of the AAP government have been involved in manhandling, humiliation and sometimes scuffle with the MCD staff and Councillors since assuming power.

The Mayor ordered the Commissioner to issue an order in this regard and prohibit their officials to share any kind of platform with the government functionaries. “I have ordered the Commissioner to issue letter asking Corporation officials not to attend functions without prior permission. If protocol exists, either the Mayor office or the Commissioner office will decide whether to allow or not. If any official found not disobeying the order, he/she will b liable to face action as per the existing DMC Act,” said the Mayor.

Commissioner PK Gupta explained that the officials/staff have their responsibility towards the Corporation first hence, the Corporation should be their first priority. If any other body writes letter seeking presence of MCD officials in their own function, it is the Corporation which will decide whether to give permission or not. 

The AAP MLA from Sadarbazar, Somdutt, however, said that the resolution is being passed with political vendetta as the government has never passed any resolution to restrain its officials from cooperating with the civic agencies. “I condemn the move as it is politically motivated. We will oppose it in an appropriate manner,” said the MLA.