FIGHT IN DELHI
New Delhi, May 20: Stepping up his offensive, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung Wednesday termed as “unconstitutional” the orders by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking officers to put up files directly to Ministers, asserting that some directives by AAP regime have tended to “obfuscate” the special position that Delhi has as the national capital.
In a letter to Kejriwal, Jung also told him that all the appointments made by the AAP government without his approval in the last four days were not valid, insisting that he was the sole authority in matters of ordering transfer and posting of bureaucrats. The assertion by the Lt Governor came as Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to allow the city government to function “independently” and accused the Centre of trying to run the Delhi administration through Jung.
In a statement, the LG’s office said Raj Niwas has received copies of some orders and communications from the AAP government in the past few days which have “tended to obfuscate the special position that Delhi has, as the National Capital, which is significantly different from other states.” Jung called it a violation of the Constitution Kejriwal’s
order three days back to principal secretaries and secretaries
asking them to put up all files, through ministers and directing that the orders of the LG to officers be first put up to the Ministers for decision.
“In a communication to the Chief Minister today, the LtGovernor has clarified the constitutional position wherein the
Lt Governor is required under the Constitution and through the delegation of powers made to him by the President of India, to act in his executive capacity, in his discretion, in consultation with the Chief Minister where deemed necessary,” the statement said.
Jung said Kejriwal had asked the bureaucrats to put up all files, including even those in which the Lt Governor has exclusive jurisdiction in his executive capacity, to the ministers. “The order of the Chief Minister to officers is in violation of this basic distinction,” it said.
In a directive Monday, Kejriwal had asked the bureaucrats including the Chief Secretary to first consult him and other Ministers before acting directions from the LG.
Both Kejriwal and Jung had taken their bitter fight to President Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday, accusing each other of violating the Constitution and overstepping their respective jurisdictions. PTI
