Kejriwal v/s Jung: Newly-appointed Tihar DG JK Sharma steps down, says AAP govt didn't seek LG nod

A day after taking charge, senior IPS officer J K Sharma has stepped down as Director General of Tihar Jail here contending the AAP government did not seek prior approval from the Lt Governor Najeeb Jung for his appointment.

In his letter to the Principal Secretary (Delhi Home Department) S N Sahai, Sharma said that since his appointment order has not been issued with the approval of competent authority (Lt Governor), the charge taken over by him is returned to the earlier officer who was holding it.

On Tuesday, the AAP government issued an order to appoint Sharma as the new DG of Tihar even as sources in the LG's office said that the former did not seek prior approval to do the same and the appointment is 'non est' (does not exist). Sharma, a 1982-batch IPS officer, who is DG (Home Guard), was given additional charge of DG (Prisons).

"With reference to order dated April 19, 2016, I took over the look after charge of Director General (Prisons) in addition to my own duties as Director General (Home Guards) but since the order is not issued with the approval of competent authority, hence the charge taken over by the undersigned (Sharma) is hereby returned to the earlier officer who was holding the charge," Sharma said in his letter issued under the designation of DG (Prisons).

He, however, said that he will be "happy" to resume the DG (Prisons) charge on approval of the competent authority.