Jung rejects appointment of Swati Maliwal as DCW chief

New Delhi, July 22

In yet another round of confrontation, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has rejected the appointment of Swati Maliwal as Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief by Arvind Kejriwal government, saying his approval had not been sought on the issue.

The LG, who has been locked in a tussle with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over appointment and transfer of senior bureaucrats, declared the appointment of Maliwal as "ultra vires" of the rules.

Referring to a Home Ministry order, the LG's office insisted that 'Government' meant the 'Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi' appointed by the President, insisting that he was sole authority in deciding on major issues including appointment to top positions.

"The constitutionally valid consistent definition of Government is the Lieutenant Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi appointed by the President under Article 239 and designated as such under article 239 AA of the Constitution," the LG's office said.

In its letter to CM office, the LG's office said it did not recognise the appointment because LG's approval was not sought as per rules.

"I have not received any communication from the LG's office or the Delhi government on the issue. I am doing my work. I will continue doing my work whether I remain in the post or not," Maliwal, who is wife of AAP leader Navin Jaihind, said today.

The face off between the LG and Kejriwal government is likely to intensify further with the development.

Maliwal had on Monday sought an urgent appointment with the Lt Governor to discuss the Anand Prabat's murder case in with a 19-year-old girl was stabbed to death by two youths.

The 30-year-old has been an advisor to Kejriwal on public grievances and handles his Janta Samwad. She has been associated with the AAP chief since India Against Corruption (IAC) days.

The opposition had criticised Maliwal's selection terming it as "nepotism" while the AAP maintained that her selection was done purely on "merit".

Referring to reports claiming that Jaihind and Kejriwal were relatives, BJP's Delhi unit president Satish Upadhyay questioned whether the Delhi CM was carrying forward the "Jai Hind jijaji (hail brother-in-law) tradition of Congress" by considering Maliwal for the job.

The Congress had also said AAP, which used to criticise nepotism and favouritism, is now following the same path to promote few members of the party. —PTI