Delhi LG Saxena asks CM Kejriwal to sack Jasmine Shah as DDC vice chairman; accused of using office for political purpose

An administrative order to this effect was issued by the planning department of the Delhi government

November 18, 2022

Why did Delhi Guv ask for the removal of Jasmine Shah as DDC vice chairman?

Delhi Lt Governor V K Saxena asked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to remove Jasmine Shah from the post of vice chairman of the Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC) for “misusing” his office for political purposes.

The office chamber of Jasmine Shah at 33, Sham Nath Marg in Delhi is sealed “in order to prevent access to the premises.”

The face-off between AAP and Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena escalated after the latter asked CM Arvind Kejriwal to remove Jasmine Shah as the vice chairman of the DDC.

Delhi LG sought to restrict Shah from using any “privilege and facilities” associated with the office of VC, DDC, with immediate effect till “a decision is taken by the CM” in this regard.

An administrative order to this effect was issued by the planning department of the Delhi government on Thursday.

Jasmine Shah was appointed as the DDC vice chairman on February 20, 2020.

The complaint raised by BJP Lok Sabha Parvesh Sahib Singh alleged that Shah had acted as an official spokesperson of AAP while working in the aforesaid position in violation of established procedures. Singh also provided videos of TV debates where Shah appeared as an AAP spokesperson.

Shah was issued a show cause notice for allegedly violating the principle of neutrality as a public servant.

Jasmine Shah was given two opportunities to reply to the show-cause notice issued on October 17 by the Director of the planning department but he failed to submit his reply, instead, he said that the reply was submitted to the Minister of the Planning department, an official said.

The LG office also wrote a letter to the CM office on November 4, seeking Shah’s reply which was not responded to. Thereafter, Lt Governor Saxena sought his removal and in the interim, to prevent any further misuse, Shah’s office was sealed late on Thursday.