Lokayukta issue: Dikshit exploring legal options

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit is exploring legal options including appealing in a court and filing a representation to the President against an Lokayukta order which slammed her for "misrepresenting" facts about construction of low cost flats in the run up to 2008 assembly polls.

Chief minister Sheila Dikshit is exploring legal options including appealing in a court and filing a representation to the President against an Lokayukta order which slammed her for "misrepresenting" facts about construction of low cost flats in the run up to 2008 assembly polls.

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"All legal options are being explored including challenging the order and making a representation to President Pratibha Patil," Dikshit's lawyer Mehmud Prasha said.

Claiming that there were contradictions in the Lokayukta order, he said a final decision on the issue will be taken after thorough examination of the order.

In an embarrassment to Dikshit, the Lokayukta today slammed her for "misrepresenting" facts by announcing in the run up to 2008 assembly polls that 60,000 low-cost flats were ready and recommended to the President to censure her.

When sought her reaction, Dikshit refused to comment saying she has not seen the order. But added that the "government never tried to misled people" on the issue.

"Distribution of flats among the slum dwellers is not an easy task. Lakhs of people want flats. The process is continuing. We are trying to make policies perfect," she said.

The Lokayukta order said although 60,000 flats were not ready, Dikshit, in her message published in a booklet ahead of the assembly polls in 2008, said the flats were ready for distribution.

Explaining difficulties in removal of slums, Dikshit said although the government wants to clean up the flats and construct new houses for the slum-dwellers, the process is not easy.