By IANS
New Delhi : Senior officer Kiran Bedi could not make it as Delhi police chief because of "administrative" factors, the National Commission for Women (NCW) said Thursday, denying any gender bias in the crucial appointment.
"This was an administrative matter," NCW chairperson Girija Vyas told reporters here, when asked if the commission would examine Bedi's allegation that she was superseded by an official two years her junior because of her gender.
"At the same time, we also maintain that no person should be discriminated for official positions on the basis of gender. Selections should be solely on the basis of merit," Vyas said at a press conference.
"Nevertheless, if Kiran Bedi had been appointed police commissioner, it would have been a victory for women and my commission. The government should frame rules in such a way that no official is disappointed when promotions are announced."
Asked specifically if the commission was going to support Bedi and take up her case with the government, Vyas declined to comment.
The government Wednesday named Yudhvir Singh Dadwal, a 1974 batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and special commissioner for administration, as Delhi police commissioner, replacing K.K. Paul who is joining the Union Public Service Commission. Dadwal superseded Bedi, who is an IPS officer from the 1972 batch.