Delhi L-G writes to Atishi: No proposal from CM office yet on bus marshals

Raising the issue of re-appointment of bus marshals, Delhi Lieutenant-Governor VK Saxena on Saturday, in a letter to Chief Minister Atishi, has written that he is yet to receive a proposal for the re-appointment of civil defence volunteers (CDVs), who were removed as bus marshals last year.

After a political slugfest between the AAP-led Delhi Government and the BJP, it was decided to take the services of CDVs to mitigate the deteriorating air quality in the National Capital for the next four months and to find a way out for their permanent appointment. Around 10,000 bus marshals, who were employed in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, were removed last year after objections were raised by the Finance and Revenue Depts.

“A lot of unwanted politics was done by your party and leaders in this regard and you too met me along with the Leader of Opposition. It is unfortunate that till now I have not received any proposal from the government in this regard,” Saxena wrote in a letter to CM Atishi.

In a post on X, Raj Niwas said that the L-G has again written to the CM underlining the non-engagement of CDVs till now and has asked her for their immediate re-appointment. “He has also asked for a concrete scheme to be formulated by the government for their immediate as well as long-term engagement.” the post added.

While, Saxena in his letter further said that he would once again advise the Delhi Govt to address the matter promptly and legally order the concerned authorities to submit a proposal for their reinstatement. “Of course, you and your party leaders may continue to do the politics of taking credit for their reinstatement but any more delay in the welfare of these economically weaker and helpless people, is not right in any way,” the letter read.

Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said that if the Delhi Govt did not issue an order by the evening of November 3 to deploy CDVs and fix their wages, the Delhi BJP will gherao the CM. Sachdeva accused the Delhi Govt of being “insensitive” and of continuing to betray the poor and contractual employees of the Delhi government.

“The Kejriwal govt initially hired thousands of contractual employees, including civil defence volunteers and bus marshals, without following administrative procedures, and later, when an inquiry started, they abruptly dismissed them, jeopardising their livelihoods.” he said. Sachdeva claimed that the BJP was coming to power in Delhi in February 2025, and in their first cabinet meeting, they would propose giving permanent employment to all contractual employees.

Will ensure bus marshals get back jobs: AAP

AAP in a statement said the then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had appointed bus marshals back in 2015 keeping women’s security in mind. In 2022, the BJP dismissed over 10,000 of these marshals in a single stroke. Instead of providing jobs, the BJP has made every effort to deprive people of their livelihoods. No matter how many roadblocks the BJP tries to create, Arvind Kejriwal won’t back down, and he will ensure that bus marshals regain their jobs soon, the AAP statement read.