Delhi House resolve: Let officers pay advocates in graft cases

New Delhi : The Delhi Assembly on Friday -- the last day of its monsoon session -- passed a resolution which makes it mandatory for officers to pay the advocates from their own salary in cases of corruption against them.

With this resolution, the Delhi government will not be liable to pay the officers for challenging the Assembly and its committees in courts.

The resolution, tabled by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Shri Dutt Sharma, also says that in case "permission to such officers to challenge the decisions of the House, committees or Speaker is granted, then the litigation expenses should be recovered from the officer, minister or authority who grants such permission."

"There is a surprising trend among a few IAS officers in Delhi to challenge the powers, privileges and procedure of Delhi Assembly and its committees... this House condemns such actions... and resolves that strict action should be taken against such officers for belittling the stature of the legislature, its committees and members," said the MLA from Delhi's North-East constituency, Ghonda.

Citing the importance of the resolution, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain said there were several instances where either the officers denied attending a committee meeting or they went to court when asked about their absence.