Sheila photo on loan form kicks up row

Lokayukta issues notice to finance corporation: Who took the decision to put the pictures?

Delhi Lokayukta Manmohan Sarin has issued a notice to the Delhi State SC/SC/OBC/Minority and Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (DSFDC) to explain the decision behind the new loan application forms, which are now being sold at Rs 100 each with pictures of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chouhan printed on them.

The Lokayukta has received a complaint about the pictures of the ministers on these forms, which were earlier distributed free.

Saying it was "unusual" to see pictures of political leaders on application forms for loans, Sarin issued a notice to the DSFDC to explain the decision behind the photographs.

The Lokayukta has also asked the corporation to produce records relating to whether the ministers or their office were involved in the decision. He sought to know if the ministers had approved the photographs.

The corporation was also asked to disclose the costs involved in printing the pictures on the forms.

Sarin issued the notice in response to a complaint by Krishna Nagar MLA Dr Harshvardhan, who alleged that the ministers were using the DSFDC to "gain publicity and woo voters" ahead of the Assembly elections next year.

The BJP MLA alleged that the ministers, who have no direct role in the functioning of the corporation, were using the forms for publicity and this was clear "violation of norms of integrity and conduct expected from public functionaries and misuse of public funds for personal and selfish political motives".

In response, the Lokayukta said there was a need for appropriate guidelines "regarding publication of photographs of leaders of political parties and expending of public funds in the guise of project information, advertisements for gaining popularity or improving the electoral electoral prospects".

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