New Delhi, December 9: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi underwent a cabinet reshuffle, with Minister Atishi now heading the Law Department, taking over from Minister Kailash Gahlot. The Women and Child Development Department has been reassigned to Gahlot. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s proposal received approval from Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena.
The decision to transfer the Law Department from Kailash Gahlot came after LG VK Saxena recalled files related to judicial infrastructure due to delays by the AAP government. Atishi, now overseeing 14 portfolios, holds the highest number of portfolios among Delhi ministers.
Following Rule 19(5) of ToBR of GNCTD, 1993, Lt Governor VK Saxena directed officials to submit pending files within three days. These files, delayed for up to six months under the Minister (Law), GNCTD, concern courts, judicial infrastructure, expeditious justice delivery, and the justice administration system. The delay, deemed to impact the judicial system’s efficiency, led to criticism by LG Saxena, citing contravention of Supreme Court initiatives for innovative justice administration.
