Senior IAS officer Sanjeev Khirwar has returned to the administrative spotlight after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs appointed him as the new Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The appointment was officially notified by the Ministry and communicated to the office of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi.
Khirwar’s posting comes at a crucial time when the civic body is preparing to present its annual budget before the Municipal Corporation House and is navigating multiple administrative and financial challenges. As Commissioner, he will be responsible for overseeing the corporation’s day-to-day functioning, coordinating across departments, and implementing policy decisions that directly impact millions of residents in the national capital.
A 1994-batch IAS officer from the Arunachal Pradesh–Goa–Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre, Sanjeev Khirwar has held several senior positions across state and central governments during his long administrative career. Between 2009 and 2014, he served as private secretary to the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, gaining significant exposure to policymaking at the national level.
Despite his experience, Khirwar became widely known following a controversy in May 2022 while serving as Delhi’s Principal Secretary (Revenue). He was accused of getting the Thyagraj Stadium complex cleared and closed early in the evenings so that he and his wife could walk their dog inside the premises. The allegation triggered widespread outrage, particularly among athletes and coaches who used the stadium for training.
Several athletes claimed they were forced to end their practice sessions by 7 PM, even though they usually trained until 8:30 PM. The matter quickly snowballed into a national debate on bureaucratic privilege and the use of public infrastructure.
The allegations were denied by Khirwar and the stadium administration. Ajit Chaudhary, the Thyagraj Stadium administrator at the time, stated that official training hours were scheduled only until 7 PM. Khirwar also rejected the claims, calling them “absolutely incorrect.” Despite these clarifications, the controversy intensified due to strong pushback from the sporting community.
Following the uproar, Khirwar was transferred from Delhi to Ladakh, a move widely seen as an administrative response to the public backlash. His wife, Rinku Dugga, also a 1994-batch IAS officer, was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh, where she served as Principal Secretary of the Indigenous Affairs Department. According to reports, she was given compulsory retirement in September 2023.
Khirwar’s return to Delhi as MCD Commissioner signals renewed confidence by the Centre in his administrative abilities. The role places him at the helm of one of India’s largest urban local bodies, responsible for civic services, infrastructure development, sanitation, and public health.
As Delhi’s civic administration faces mounting expectations from residents and political leadership alike, Khirwar’s performance will be closely monitored. His tenure is likely to be judged on efficiency, transparency, and his ability to steer the MCD through financial stress and governance challenges.
For Sanjeev Khirwar, the appointment marks a significant professional comeback and an opportunity to redefine his public image. For the city, it represents a new phase in municipal governance at a time when effective administration is more critical than ever.