Jung-Kejriwal tussle reaches Prez door

The development capped a dramatic day which began with the elected government locking the office of the Anindo Majumdar, Principal Secretary of the Department of Services. He was transferred by <g data-gr-id="39">government</g> after he issued the order of the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as Acting Chief Secretary. The Raj Niwas on its part had declared the appointment void.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia who holds <g data-gr-id="47">portfolio</g> of the Department of Services had transferred the Services and General Administration Department from Majumdar to CM’s secretary Rajender Kumar. The LG in the afternoon issued an order to reinstate Majumdar and declared the appointment of Kumar as void but <g data-gr-id="46">council</g> of minister refused to follow the order.

In response, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wrote back: “Your directions are against the provisions of law and <g data-gr-id="49">Constitution therefore</g> cannot be complied with.” He added that Mr Kejriwal would write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sisodia also accused Jung of leaking his letters to the media. “Strange that a Constitutional Authority leaking letters addressed to Dy CM before it is received. Is it allowed under Constitution of India? (sic),” he tweeted.

Delhi government sources claim the transfer and posting of officers under UT cadre and their work allocation comes under the jurisdiction of the Delhi government.

Earlier on Sunday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said the confrontation over the appointment of power secretary Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary was another instance of interference by the Narendra Modi government and hinted that the Centre was conspiring to ensure that the AAP dispensation “failed”.

Rebutting Arvind Kejriwal’s statement, in which the Delhi CM asked him to work “within the confines of the Constitution” with respect to the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting chief secretary, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Saturday had said he has “acted fully conscious of his duties and responsibilities under the Constitution of India.”

While the Centre is largely keeping itself aloof from the Arvind Kejriwal vs Delhi LG tangle on matters of jurisdiction, Delhi BJP firmly believes that Najeeb Jung is right in asserting his prerogative to involve or not involve the Delhi CM in decisions pertaining to ‘reserved’ subjects of police, public order and land.

The Congress, however, has decided to criticize the Raj Niwas for not allowing the chief minister a <g data-gr-id="37">free-hand</g> in choosing his officers. Delhi Congress president Ajay Maken has been critical of the moves made by Najeeb Jung.