Delhi Lieutenant Governor  (LG) VK Saxena’s office has rejected the Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s allegations that the LG was withholding appointments of 244 posts of principals on "flimsy grounds". It said that Sisodia, who is holding charge of the education department, had proposed to scrap 244 posts of school principals and these were "deemed abolished" as they could not be filled for five years.

Terming Sisodia’s allegations as "patently false, bereft of facts, wrong, deliberately misleading and in utter disregard of constitutional provisions and orders of the High Court of Delhi", the L-G’ office said that in fact, the Sisodia had  submitted a proposal for the revival of 126 posts and abolition of 244 posts of principal, for approval of the L-G.

The LG, instead, advised the education department to submit a suitable proposal for abolition/creation of posts of principal/deputy education officer after getting the comprehensive study conducted from the Administrative Reforms Department, the Lt Governor office said in a statement.

Responding to Lt Governor’s office claims, Sisodia on Tuesday said that Lt Governor is just misleading the people of Delhi by falsely appropriating the credit for revival of 126 posts while putting the remaining 244 posts on the back burner. “LG is just misleading the people of Delhi by falsely appropriating the credit for revival of 126 posts while putting the remaining 244 posts on the back burner. Schools exist in reality and are functioning every day; why should a study decide whether a school needs a principal or not?,” he said.

Earlier, Sisodia had told a press conference on Sunday that they had ensured the file for the appointment of 370 principals was sent to the LG office, but only 126 were approved and the LG was withholding appointments of 244 posts on "flimsy grounds". He had also accuse the LG of taking over the services department unconstitutionally. The LG office rejected these claims saying that according to a ministry of finance memo dated April 12, 2017, these posts were "deemed abolished" as the education department could not fill them for over five years.

It said the finance ministry memo provides that a post falling in the category of "deemed abolished" cannot be filled without permission of the competent authority.

The finance ministry memo also provides that posts remaining vacant for five years may be abolished immediately, it said.

Out of the total 370 vacant posts of Principal, 126 posts were vacant for more than two years and 244 posts were vacant for more than five years bringing them within the purview of "deemed abolition" as per the finance ministry memo, it said.

Contrary to the claims made by the deputy chief minister, the LG did not agree with the proposal of the education department for abolition of 244 posts, said the LG office.

The Lt Governor’s office further stated that the services department had also advised the Administrative Reforms Department that it may carry out comprehensive study in one go regarding 244 posts of principal proposed for abolition and keeping in view the requirements of the education department, it added.

On Sisodia's charges about the LG "taking over" the "services department unconstitutionally”, Saxena's office said that according to a High Court order on August 4, 2016, the services department is outside the legislative and executive domain of Delhi government.  "Therefore, this statement of Deputy Chief Minister is false and misleading and hence denied," it said.