Delhi: Ex-Speaker Issued 23 Ads on B'day, RTI Reveals

Outlook India ; New Delhi ; Sep 13, 2010 ;

Former Speaker of Delhi legislative assembly Prem Singh had commissioned 23 advertisements worth over Rs 10 lakh on his 75th birthday in 2007, an RTI reply has revealed.

The expenses incurred on these advertisements were borne by Bureau of Legislative Studies which was headed by Prem Singh in 2007.

The file notes revealed under the RTI act show that officials of Bureau of Legislative Studies prepared a proposal to issue advertisements in 23 news papers on Singh's 75th birthday.

Ironically, the file was sent to Singh himself, who was heading the Bureau, for clearance.

"After publication of the said advertisement design, M/S Pressman Advertising and Marketing limited has sent a bill of Rs 10,87,159 for payment to them which is based on DAVP rates.

"The news clippings of the approved advertisement designs, appeared in 23 newspapers, have also been sent by the said firm along with the bill. President, Bureau of Legislative Studies may, theerfore, be requested to accord his kind approval to the amount," the file notings provided to S C Agrawal said.

The Bureau is a society aimed to promote and provide for parliamentary studies. The Lt Governor of Delhi is the patron of the Bureau and the Speaker, Delhi Vidhan Sahba is its President. In 2007, Prem Singh who was the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly was also the President of the Bureau.