AAP- LG battle moves to court

On the other hand the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP, which is power in Delhi, after rejecting the Centre’s notification on separation of powers between the Lieutenant Governor and the city government on the floor of the state assembly, has decided to move against it in the High Court. Even this matter would come up for hearing on Friday.

The tussle between the two governments is over the Home Ministry gazette notification issued on May 21 that the ACB police station shall not take <g data-gr-id="43">cognisance</g> of offences against officials, employees and functionaries of the central government services besides giving the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) absolute powers on transfers and postings of senior officers. Ahead of the crucial hearings, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung met Home Minister Rajnath Singh on <g data-gr-id="44">Thurday</g> to hold consultations on the Centre’s stand on the matter. 

The Lieutenant Governor, as Centre’s representative, is vested with considerable powers because the capital, according to the Centre, is a union territory. On the other hand, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal maintains that since Delhi has a legislative assembly with powers to make laws, it was more than a union territory.

Meanwhile, Delhi Assembly has decided to send to the President, Lt Governor and MPs copies of the resolution which it passed on Wednesday against the MHA notification giving absolute powers to the LG.

In the resolution, the 70-member House, where AAP is in majority with 67 MLAs, has urged President Pranab Mukherjee to invoke his powers under Article 143 and to make a reference to the Supreme Court to clearly define the powers and responsibilities of the elected Government of Delhi, the Lieutenant Governor (Delhi) and Central Government with respect to legislative and executive functions of Delhi, to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future.