Despite Centre’s rejection, Kejriwal firm on DDCA probe

Despite the Centre rejecting the Delhi government’s Commission of Inquiry into alleged Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Friday, calling it ‘unconstitutional and illegal,’ the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government said the commission will proceed its functioning and inquire the matter.

Hours after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung sent a letter to the Delhi government, which stated that “Constitution of Commission of Inquiry into the DDCA affairs is unconstitutional and illegal,” Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit back at the Centre saying that the commission was formed as per the law.

“Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, has accordingly held that the notification issued by the Directorate of Vigilance, Government of NCT of Delhi, is unconstitutional, illegal and therefore has no legal effect,” LG’s letter to Delhi government stated. Jung had earlier questioned the legality of appointment of commission on December 25, three days after it was formed.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the commission would conduct an inquiry in DDCA scam as per the law. “The commission was set up by an elected government and it was done as per the law, so it cannot be termed illegal or unconstitutional. The inquiry commission will proceed its way. If the Centre has any objection on it, then it can approach and challenge it,” Sisodia said. He added, “An elected state government is not bound to follow every order of the Centre, it has its own way to function.”

It is believed that if the Kejriwal government stands firm on its decision to inquire into the alleged financial irregularities in the DDCA under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the Centre will move court. The political clash between the Centre and the AAP government began with a raid by the CBI in the office of Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary Rajendra Kumar, known as Kejriwal’s loyalist.

As the tussle continued, the Centre on Wednesday sent a communication that “the elected Government of NCT of Delhi is neither the Central government nor the state government within the meaning of Section 2 and 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952. ...Therefore, it has no jurisdiction or power to set up a Commission of Inquiry under the said Act.”