Delhi assembly’s Monsoon Session sets stage for new showdown

A new confrontation between the bureaucrats and the AAP government, which was sparked when transport minister Kailash Gahlot allegedly “misbehaved” with transport secretary Varsha Joshi on Friday, is likely to resonate in the House

Delhi Assembly’s five-day Monsoon Session is set to begin from Monday. Three important topics —installation of CCTV cameras, Supreme Court verdict on the powers of the elected government and a separate public service commission for Delhi — have been listed for discussion on the first day of the session.

. During the last assembly session, IAS officers boycotted proceedings after an alleged assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP MLAs at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on February 19. (Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

A new confrontation between the bureaucrats and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, which was sparked when transport minister Kailash Gahlot allegedly “misbehaved” with transport secretary Varsha Joshi on Friday, is likely to resonate in the House. Gahlot has denied the allegations.

Friday’s alleged incident may also lead to officers boycotting assembly committee proceedings. During the last assembly session, IAS officers boycotted proceedings after an alleged assault on chief secretary Anshu Prakash by AAP MLAs at chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on February 19.

The session, which is likely to start with the question hour, has at least 20 items listed on the agenda. The question hour will be followed by legislators raising issues related to their constituencies and then to the House business (list of resolutions). During the Assembly’s Summer Session in June, AAP legislators had alleged the officers had not given complete answers to their questions. The move was taken up by the Speaker of the House Ram Niwas Goel after which the matter was referred to the Assembly’s privilege committee.

AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj said he hoped IAS officers would provide answers to all questions asked by the MLAs. “This five-day session is basically to raise issues and questions, which have already been notified. Several short duration discussions including a separate cadre of officers for Delhi have been listed for Monday,” said Bhardwaj.

This will also be the first session after the Supreme Court’s July 4 order on the power tussle between the elected government and the lieutenant-governor.

Besides, two resolutions are expected to be tabled in the House on August 10 by private members. One of the resolutions is regarding officers allegedly providing “misleading information” to the media and the court about House panels.

The resolution titled “To condemn behaviour of officers providing misleading information to the media and the court of law about the assembly committees” is to be tabled by AAP MLA from Ghonda, Shri Dutt Sharma.

Sharma, who is also a member of privilege committee, claimed officers had been spreading “misinformation” about Assembly committees in the media and to the court.

Another resolution likely to be tabled in the House is over the menace of stray dogs and monkeys in Delhi. The resolution is to be brought in by AAP legislator from Chandni Chowk, Alka Lamba.

Besides these resolutions, a privilege committee report is also likely to be tabled during the session.

“The privilege committee is likely to table its report against an officer of the Delhi Waqf Board for misleading the Assembly’s question and reference committee on a matter pertaining to illegal sale of some land belonging to dargah of sufi saint Naseeruddin Aulia,” a member of the committee said.

Also, BJP MLAs are expected to question the government over frequent cases of waterlogging in the city.