As the turf war between the Centre and the Delhi government intensified on Tuesday, allegedly triggered by the Anti-Corruption Branch’s action of reopening the CNG fitness scam case of 2002, the State told Joint Commissioner of Police Mukesh Kumar Meena, appointed by Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung as the chief of the Branch, “to go back” to the Delhi Police as “there is no vacancy in the ACB.” This was followed by orders cancelling his appointment issued by the State Home Department.
The Delhi government swiftly ordered the transfer of Principal Secretary (Home) Dharam Pal, who had signed the order appointing Mr. Meena on Mr. Jung’s orders. Mr. Dharam Pal’s transfer was later overturned by Mr. Jung.
The Delhi government has asked Mr. Dharam Pal to report to the Union Home Ministry. “Firstly, M.K. Meena’s appointment in the ACB by the Lieutenant-Governor is illegal. Moreover, Home Minister Satyendra Jain wasn’t informed and Mr. Pal cleared the file. When officials aren’t following the procedure and not routing the files related to transfers and postings to the Minister concerned, there is some conspiracy behind it,” an AAP leader said.
However, sources in Mr. Jung’s office said Mr. Dharam Pal’s transfer order was invalid as only the Lieutenant-Governor and the Home Ministry are authorised to issue it.
Fact files
- »May 18, 2015: AAP appointed senior bureaucrat Arvind Ray as Principal Secretary (General Administration) bypassing Najeeb Jung.
- »May 19, 2015: Jung asserts that he was the sole authority in matters of ordering transfer and posting of bureaucrats.
- »May 19, 2015: Kejriwal and Jung separately met the President while accusing each other of breaking the fine balance of jurisdictions.
- »May 20, 2015: Jung cancelled all appointments made by the Delhi government.
- »May 20, 2015: The Centre asked Najeeb Jung and Arvind Kejriwal to sit together and find a solution to the ongoing turf war.
- »May 20, 2015: Congress accused AAP and BJP of “deliberately” creating a “constitutional crisis”.
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Kejriwal, Jung take their fight to President
Jung reportedly apprised Mr. Mukherjee of the stand-off, while maintaining that he had the power to appoint and transfer officers.
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Delhi battle intensifies as Jung cancels Kejriwal’s appointments
Kejriwal wrote to Mr. Jung questioning his move. He wanted to know under what provisions the Lieutenant-Governor had exercised his authority.
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Kejriwal ups ante against Lieutenant-Governor Jung
Acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala D. Gamlin was appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor’s office despite the objections of the AAP government.
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Kejriwal-Jung impasse: The battle is for statehood
At the core of the current impasse between the Lieutenant-Governor and the Delhi Government is an issue which has the potential to transform the political climate of the Capital forever, insiders say.
