Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Tejendra Khanna has accepted the report of Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin indicting BJP councillor from Bindapur, Achal Sharma, along with his associates, for beating up a junior engineer and other members of a demolition team that had gone to pull down an unauthorised house.
In his order dated January 17, Mr. Khanna has urged the Delhi Mayor to take steps to draw up a “code of conduct in public life” for councillors and arrange orientation programmes on “ethical values and conduct in public life” for them.
The Lieutenant-Governor also “advised” Sharma “to be more cautious of his conduct in public life”.
The Lokayukta had in his order of September 2, 2011, also recommended to the Lieutenant-Governor to censure the councillor. But that has not been done.
It was in June 2010 that Mr. Justice Sarin had taken suo motu cognizance of the incident. Junior Engineer Hansraj Meena and his associates had gone for the demolition when the councillor and his associates beat them up.
The matter had been reported to the Delhi Police and a case registered. The councillor had alleged that the JE was demanding bribe for unauthorised constructions and that complaints had been made to the MCD Deputy Commissioner.
Probe conducted
During the inquiry by the Lokayukta, Mr. Meena, beldar Ashok Kumar and ASI Purushottam Singh, who had accompanied the demolition team, had deposed about Sharma and his associates assaulting the junior engineer and the beldar for carrying out the demolition. As a result, the demolition work was not completed.
Mr. Meena had also stated that the councillor had earlier told him to take his permission before entering the ward or visiting any premises.
Sharma had alleged that Mr. Meena's complaint was only to counter allegations made by him against the JE for allowing illegal constructions and carrying out demolition contrary to the settled protocol.
He had also stated that he was not present at the site at the time of the alleged incident.
However, the councillor's plea did not find favour with the Lokayukta, in view of direct evidence submitted by the MCD staff and the police personnel.
