A head should behave like a head: VK Jain
Sitting at an office in Delhi’s posh New Friends Colony, VK Jain is nowadays busy reading about the Constitution of India. Jain, the former adviser to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, resigned from the post days after he was questioned as one of the eyewitnesses of Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash’s alleged assault. He has recently enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi.
Away from the hustle and bustle of the government set up, Jain is now devoting the entire time to his family. Calling himself as a ‘non- controversial’ person, he feels that by joining the judiciary system, he has got his chance to do social work.
Q: It is been almost one month since you resigned from the Delhi government. What made you switch to the legal profession?
After the incident happened, I felt that it was an opportunity for me to leave the government set up. Before joining as an IAS officer, I was also selected as a judge in 1984 in the Uttar Pradesh Judiciary. But my father always wanted me to join the bureaucracy. But now, when I have left the bureaucratic setup, I feel that this job is best suited for me.
Q: You have worked so closely with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal the AAP government led by him. What are the things that you admire about this government? And what is the one thing you want them to improve?
The intentions of the AAP government are extremely positive. I admire their contribution in the field of education and health. The condition of the schools and hospitals has improved with their efforts and active participation. As I am now out of the system, I don’t feel like commenting on their weak points. But somehow, I feel that they need to work on the team spirit. A head of the family should behave like a head. He should avoid the minute issues and focus on the larger perspectives i.e the prosperity of Delhi and its people.
Q: The IAS officers in Delhi are still not communicating with the AAP ministers and are observing five minutes of silence every day as a mark of their protest against the government. What, according to you, is the problem in Delhi?
There is a mismatch of expectations which is hampering the work in Delhi. The issue is now in the court and the judiciary will take its own decision.
Q: You have been a part of Delhi administrative set up for way too long. You have worked in various departments like DUSIB, DDA, and Indraprastha (IP) University, etc. Which profile excited you the most and why?
Though, I have enjoyed working in all the departments but my tenure with the IP University was a memorable one. I worked in the varsity from 2004-2006 as a registrar. It was the time when the university was gaining popularity. In 2004, there were only 50,000 registrations for the admissions. The number jumped to 1, 63,000 in 2006. We ensured that the university standards are well-maintained.
