IAS officer who emptied Delhi stadium to walk dog takes charge as MCD commissioner

Sanjeev Khirwar, a 1994-batch IAS officer, has been appointed as the new Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) commissioner, marking his return to the national capital after being transferred out following a major controversy in 2022. The Union Home Ministry announced his appointment on Wednesday and communicated the decision to the office of Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena.

Khirwar, an officer of the Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram and Union Territories cadre, has succeeded Ashwani Kumar, a 1992-batch IAS officer, who has been transferred to Jammu and Kashmir. Khirwar takes charge at a crucial time when the civic body is preparing to present its budget later this month amid mounting administrative and financial challenges.

The MCD commissioner plays a pivotal role in overseeing day-to-day civic administration, policy implementation and coordination among departments. Khirwar’s appointment comes as the corporation faces pressure to streamline finances, improve service delivery and address pending infrastructure and sanitation issues.

Khirwar was at the centre of a major controversy in 2022 when allegations surfaced that athletes were asked to vacate Thyagraj Stadium earlier than usual so he could walk his dog. At the time, he was serving as Delhi’s Principal Secretary (Revenue). Athletes and coaches had claimed their training schedules were disrupted, triggering widespread public criticism.

Khirwar denied the allegations, stating that the claims were incorrect, though he admitted to occasionally walking his pet at the facility. Following the row, he was transferred to Ladakh, while his wife, Rinku Dugga, also a 1994-batch IAS officer, was later compulsorily retired under service rules after a review of her service record. With his return, Khirwar assumes charge at a sensitive moment for the civic body.