Post SC verdict, govt takes flurry of decisions at Cabinet meeting

NEW DELHI: Within hours of the Supreme Court ruling in the Delhi government's favour, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday chaired a Cabinet meeting and directed all government functionaries to start work, according to the order of the Supreme Court.

The Chief Minister also directed to expedite the proposals of doorstep delivery of rations and installation of 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras across the city, two projects that were in limbo awaiting approval from Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal since last month.

In May this year, Kejriwal, his ministers and legislators of Aam Aadmi Party had sat on a 'dharna' near the LG office for over three hours, accusing him of stalling the AAP government's ambitious project to install 1.4 lakh CCTV cameras across Delhi at the "behest of the BJP".

Moreover, hours after the SC verdict, the government introduced a new system for transfers and posting of bureaucrats, making the Chief Minister the approving authority. So far, the LG had been the approving authority for transfers and posting of IAS and DANICS (Delhi, Anadaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Services) officers.

However, senior bureaucrats in the Delhi government said that the "services matter still lies with the office of the LG, because Delhi is a Union Territory, and services does not fall under the concurrent and state lists."

As per an order issued by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services (DASS) Grade-I, II, principal secretary and private secretary will come under the Deputy CM, who will be responsible for their transfer and posting.

The minister-in-charge will have a say in transfer and posting of other officials such as stenographers.

Addressing a press conference here, Sisodia said the Centre and the LG had "misinterpreted" rules by adding services matter in "reserved subjects" and they should "apologise" for this. He added that the Delhi government does not need to get its decision approved by the LG.

"The historic mandate given to us was for development, welfare of the people and to facilitate resumption of long-pending works.

"However, hurdles were thrown in the way of the functioning of an elected government through a 'wilful interpretation' of the Constitution," Sisodia said.

"Whether it was the issue of installation of CCTV cameras, ration scheme, transfer and posting (of officials), interference was being created," he added.

Wednesday's judgment was given by a five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.