'Jung appointed LG from outside panel'

Former vice-chancellor of Jamia Millia University Najeeb Jung was appointed Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor from outside a panel of five names which was earlier prepared by the Home Ministry.

In reply to an RTI query, filed by activist Subhash Chandra Agarwal, the government said initially a list of five names was prepared. 

The names — S Y Qureshi, former chief election commissioner; Salauddin Ahmed, former chief secretary of Rajasthan; Anwar Ahsan Ahmed, former secretary (Border Management) in Ministry of Home Affairs; Shamim Banu, former additional chief secretary of Karnataka and G S Kang, former chief secretary of Bihar — were proposed in a Home Ministry note dated October 5 last year.

“It is relevant to mention that the person to be appointed as LG should be having background of dealing with administrative assignment. The job requires administrative experience as, in Union territories, much of the responsibility of the Lieutenant Governor is administrative in nature,” said the note giving five names.

“Therefore, people with vast administrative experience are generally chosen for the post,” it said.

However, a note prepared later proposed Jung’s name as Delhi LG for approval of Home Minister and Prime Minister.

“It is proposed that Najeeb Jung, IAS (retd) may be appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of national capital territory of Delhi in place of Tejendra Khanna,” it added.

“If the Home Minister and the Prime Minister agree, the above proposal be submitted for approval of President,” the then Home Secretary R K Singh had said in the note dated June 6.

Following due approvals, a formal order appointing Jung as the Lieutenant Governor with effect from July 9, was issued on July 16.