LG Rejects AAP’s Request to Dismiss Shunglu Panel, Gives Extension

Najeeb Jung and Arvind Kejriwal. (Photo: PTI)

Hours after the Delhi government advised Najeeb Jung to dissolve the Shunglu Committee, which is examining 400 files on decisions taken by the AAP regime, the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) turned down the request and gave the panel a six-week extension.

While rejecting the AAP's request to dissolve the three-member committee, the L-G said the "truth hidden behind these files" must come out.

Lieutenant Governor has extended the tenure of the three-member committee till 2 December. Earlier, the committee was asked by L-G to submit its report within six weeks.

An official

Jung had formed the committee, chaired by Shunglu on 30 August, along with ex-chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami and ex-chief vigilance commissioner Pradeep Kumar as its members.

In a three-page press statement, Jung wondered why the AAP government is "afraid" of the truth coming out if everything, as claimed by AAP ministers, is as per rules.

Earlier in the day on Friday, the Delhi Cabinet passed a resolution advising Jung to dissolve the committee headed by former CAG VK Shunglu arguing that "impounding" of 400 files is "creating hurdles" in the works of government.

The L-G office said the Cabinet resolution is evidently an attempt to "mislead" the public and take attention away from "grave misdemeanours" evident in some of the files.

Jung said the files that have been sent to his office have not been "summoned or impounded" by his office, but have been sent by the ministers themselves.

These are those files where the elected Government has itself admitted that it has not followed Constitutional provisions and transgressed established rules/laws/ conventions. The Ministers have admitted that these matters need to be now regularised.

Najeeb Jung, Lieutenant Governor

The committee is examining the files to establish the extent of malfeasance, if any, that may have been committed, the L-G office also said.

“The committee is examining only those files where illegalities have been committed and have thus been accepted by the ministers themselves by virtue of the fact that they themselves have submitted these files. The LG office has not issued any instructions to stop any work,” the statement added.

(With inputs from PTI.)