Centre’s notification shows BJP’s nervousness: Kejriwal

The MHA’s notification said public order, police, land and services fall outside purview of legislative assembly,

May 22, 2015 01:24 pm | Updated November 29, 2021 01:12 pm IST - New Delhi

Hitting out at the Centre after it issued a notification specifying the role and powers of Delhi Lt Governor, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said it showed BJP’s nervousness about the anti-corruption efforts of his government.

“BJP first lost Del elections. Today’s notification shows BJP’s nervousness abt our anti-corruption efforts. BJP again lost today(sic)” Mr. Kejriwal said in his tweet.

Amid the escalating LG-CM feud, the Centre on Friday backed Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung making it clear that it was not mandatory for him to consult Mr. Kejriwal on matters like appointment of bureaucrats.

In a gazette notification issued on Friday, the Union Home Ministry said that the LG will have jurisdiction over matters connected with services, public order, police and land and he may consult with the Chief Minister whenever he thinks necessary in issues of services using his own “discretion”.

Reacting to MHA’s notification, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that it has become clear through this notification that the “Delhi’s transfer-posting industry” is afraid of AAP government.

“By this notification, it is clear that how the transfer industry of Delhi is afraid of us,” Mr. Sisodia said in his series of tweets.

“Through this (notification), it is being made efforts to save transfer-posting industry,” he said.

The MHA’s notification said public order, police, land and services fall outside purview of legislative assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and consequently the Government of NCT of Delhi will have no executive power” on such matters.

Mr. Sisodia alleged that the development showed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh were “kneeling down” before corruption and “transfer-posting industry.”

In a series of tweets, he said “In Delhi appointment of Commissioner of Police (CP), Chief Secretary (CS), Home Secretary and Land Secretary is in the hands of LG but in consultation with the CM.”

“In all these four cases, the LG has no power to appoint without consultation with CM,” he said.

“As per the Constitution, all other transfer-posting rights are with the Delhi Government. It’s Delhi Government’s responsibility to carry out transfer and posting of officers and get them work,” Mr. Sisodia said.

Raising questions on the notification, he said, “If MHA will frame such rule to promote some corrupt babus at the cost of the Constitution, it will have to be seen whether the nexus of politicians and corrupt babus or the Constitution.”

The appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary by LG last week had triggered a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and the Lt Governor, with Mr. Kejriwal questioning the LG’s authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.

Jung-Kejriwal turf war intensifies

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”.
  • >

    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.

  • >

    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.

  • >

    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.

  • >

    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.

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