The Aam Aadmi Party dispensation has taken exception to Lieutenant-Governor Anil Baijal’s appointment of members to the Police Complaints Authority on Tuesday, with Delhi Home Minister Satyendar Jain writing to Mr. Baijal on Thursday seeking withdrawal of the order.

The government had approved the constitution of the PCA on January 29, after which it sought applications for three members of the authority. The PCA will look into allegations of misconduct against police personnel.

In an order on Tuesday, the L-G approved the appointment of three members — retired IAS officer Nutan Guha Biswas, retired IPS officer P. Kamraj and advocate Tinu Bajwa — to the panel.

Reacting to the development, Mr. Jain wrote to Mr. Baijal saying that a matter regarding the setting up of the PCA was pending in the Delhi HC, which in its order on October 12 had said that “any further action taken in the matter will be subject to the outcome of the said proceedings before the court”.

The Minister wrote that he was of the view that the appointment order was not justified since the matter was sub judice before the High Court. He requested the L-G to withdraw the appointment of the three members.

Under L-G’s control

According to sources in the Home Department, the order was sent to the L-G directly, and not through the Minister, as it relates to police, which is a subject that the L-G controls and not the elected government of Delhi.

The order states that the members will have a tenure of three years, with an age limit of 65 years. The members can be removed by the L-G if they are found guilty of misconduct or misbehaviour, negligent towards their duties, or engaged in paid employment outside of their work as PCA members, the order said.