The Delhi High Court in the case Ashok Kumar Rajdev & Ors. v. Government of NCT of Delhi Through Directorate of Vigilance & Ors. obserevd and has issued the notice in the petition moved by the six PWD officials against the show cause notices issued to them by Delhi Government’s Vigilance department over the alleged gross violations of the rules in the renovation work undertaken at the official residence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The bench headed by Justice Chandra Dhari Singh in the case observed and seek response of the Delhi Government through Director of Vigilance, Special Secretary of Vigilance and Public Works Department.
The counsel, Senior Advocate Salman Khurshid and Senior Advocate Atul Nanda appearing on behalf of the PWD officials submitted before the court that the show cause notice has been issued by the Vigilance department which is neither authorized nor competent to initiate the disciplinary action dated June 19.
It has also been contended before the court that the officials, who being the PWD officers, were not amenable to the jurisdiction of the Vigilance department with respect to any of the disciplinary proceedings.
On the other hand, the counsel, Senior Advocate Rahul Mehra appearing for the PWD and Delhi Government’s Director of Vigilance submitted before the court that no coercive steps shall be taken against the PWD officials till the next date of hearing.
The said court objected the statement to by the Special Secretary of Vigilance, the IAS officer Y.V.V.J. Rajasekhar who also signed the show cause notices, wherein the court stated that there being the prima facie case made out against the PWD officials.
It has also been submitted before the court that there was no force in the objections raised on behalf of the PWD officials that the show cause notices were issued without jurisdiction.
Further, it has also been submitted by the PWD officials that the impugned show cause notices are an outcome of the ‘political tussle’ between the Lt. Governor and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and that they have been made scapegoat in the matter.
Adding to it, the court stated that the PWD officials in spite of the fact that all the work was undertaken by them for the official residence of the Chief Minister under the instructions of the concerned PWD minister and not for their personal gain.
Accordingly, the court listed the matter for further consideration on October 12, 2023.
