'Civic bodies flouting appointment rules'

All the three newly-formed civic bodies are facing flak for alleged irregularities in appointment of officials on key posts.

All the three newly-formed civic bodies are facing flak for alleged irregularities in appointment of officials on key posts.

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Rules regarding posting of officials on sensitive posts are being flouted by the three corporations, the leader of opposition, South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), Farhad Suri, said on Tuesday.

According to the circular issued by the Directorate of Local Bodies, officers who have handled sensitive assignments for more than two years in their previous dispensation should not be given the same assignment again.

"It is not only about corruption but this also affects the work as there's always a scope for manipulation when a person is on a sensitive post for more than two years," Suri added.

Recently, former chairman of works committee of the unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Jagdish Mamgain, had also said that tainted officials were being given plum postings in all the three corporations.

According to Mamgain, more than 5,200 criminal and corruption cases are pending against the employees of the three corporations, who have been given plum postings.

However, the commissioners of the corporations feel that things will take time to fall in place but they'll ensure that no rule is flouted. "We are stabilizing and we don't want to make any changes in the haste. Our target is first to make all departments operational. We'll definitely follow the procedure," said Manish Gupta, commissioner, SDMC.

Shortage of manpower and resources is also forcing commissioners not to make any changes.