Delhi: Not calling SDMC chief to play Tambola, says House panel

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On Monday, special secretary, urban development, Sandeep Mishra told the committee that Digal is unwell and on leave. SDMC additional commissioner Meeta Singh and chief legal officer Rajneesh Bansal told the panel that Goel could not attend the meeting at 3 pm as he had another meeting with Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu at 4 pm.

The committee disallowed a counsel to appear for Goel, saying that the appointment of the counsel should have been done with prior intimation and approval of the legislative committee.

Goel’s counsel Rakesh Mittal said the commissioner was unable to come to the committee as he had an important meeting to attend.

“We had not called him to play Tambola or Antakshari here. These are issues of public interest we are discussing,” said Birla.

“You are only aggravating the contempt proceedings. We had categorically asked the commissioner to be present today and he had said that he would be available,” Bhardwaj told Mittal.

Bansal, meanwhile, objected to Bhardwaj’s membership in the committee. But the panel’s secretary, Prasanna Suryadevara, said only another member of the committee can raise such an objection. In a statement, the SDMC alleged that “the committee has not been conducting its proceedings as per laid down rules and it has summoned the commissioner in person at the behest of Bhardwaj in total subversion of rules”.

SDMC standing committee chairman Shailender Singh Monti said the assembly panel had picked up the issue “arbitrarily and malafidely”.

After an hour-and-a-half, when the committee asked Meeta Singh to fix a time on Tuesday when Goel would be able to appear before it, she said his phone was switched off. The committee then asked her to confirm if it can proceed on Tuesday with Goel in attendance. The confirmation is expected on Tuesday morning.