New Delhi: Refusing to accept rejection
of its recommendation for dismissal of a Delhi minister at its
face value, the Delhi Lokayukta on Wednesday demanded to see the file
notings by President Pratibha Patil for her decision.
The Lokayukta, in a letter to Union Home Ministry,
asked for the final order of the President including reasons,
if recorded by her, in dismissing the recommendation to remove
PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan for his alleged involvement in
a tax evasion case.
Responding to a reminder by the Lokayukta, the Home
Ministry on Monday had informed the anti-corruption watchdog
that the decision to reject the recommendation was based on a
report of the Delhi Government as well as explanation of the
Minister. But Lokayukta, not satisfied with the explanation,
sent the letter to the Ministry today.
In the letter, the Lokayukta asked the Home Ministry
to provide it with analysis and recommendations of the
Ministry, sent to the President, saying they were important
for taking the case to its logical conclusion.
Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin had in February
recommended to President Pratibha Patil to "withdraw her
pleasure" for the Minister to continue in office after finding
him "guilty" of involvement in protecting a leading resort in
the city in a tax evasion case.
The President had last month rejected the
recommendation of the Lokayukta.
"Your (Home Ministry) letter stated that after going
through the facts and circumstances of the case and the
inferences that can be fairly and naturally drawn, it was
concluded that the findings and recommendation of the
Lokayukta may not be accepted... However, the said
recommendations containing your analysis and conclusions have
not been forwarded to this office," the letter by the
Lokayukta said.
PTI
