The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday said that the Centre’s advice to the Delhi Lieutenant-Governor on the issue of ‘services’ — transfers and postings of bureaucrats — was “highly misleading”.
In its July 4 judgment, the Supreme Court ruled that the L-G has no independent power to take decisions and is bound by the elected government’s advice.
While the party claimed that the apex court’s order “reversed” the May 21, 2015, notification by which the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) was made the authority for transfers and postings of bureaucrats in Delhi, the Centre has taken the stand that the matter of ‘services’ was still pending in the Supreme Court.
The MHA advised L-G Anil Baijal not to take a final view on matters related to ‘services’. Countering the MHA’s stand, the AAP said that the Centre and the L-G were “trying to delay the smooth functioning of the elected government” in Delhi.
The party also said that the MHA’s views on the landmark ruling was aimed at “subverting the rule of law”.
The Delhi BJP on Sunday accused the government of adopting “confrontationist” attitude towards the Centre. “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is creating unnecessary confusion,” said Leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, Vijender Gupta.
“The Supreme Court did not rule on the May 21, 2015, notification. It will be heard by the regular Bench of the SC,” he claimed, adding that till a decision is given, the matter of ‘services’ remains under the L-G’s jurisdiction.
