No Respite For Arvind Kejriwal, AAP Government's File Sent Back Despite Supreme Court Ruling Against L-G

New Delhi, July 5: Few hours after the Supreme Court held that Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal is bound to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, the AAP government, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Wednesday sent a file to Secretary (Services), stating that Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia would be responsible for for the transfer and posting of senior officers. However, the file was sent back.

Manish Sisodia, who holds the Services portfolio, received a five-page note, which cited a Ministry of Home Affairs notification of May 2015 while expressing inability to carry out the order, reported the Indian Express. The note stated that until the notification is quashed, the Services department could not clear the order passed by the AAP government.

“The MHA notification is in the name of the President and unless it is specifically overturned or quashed, it stands,” a senior officer was quoted as saying. He also claimed that because of the MHA notification, Services, for now, remains with the office of the Lt Governor.

Following the apex court's verdict, the Delhi cabinet introduced a new system for transfer and posting of officers, empowering Sisodia to transfer and post of Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services (DASS) Grade-I, II, Principal Secretary and Private Secretary-level officers.

A Supreme Court Constitution Bench on Wednesday unanimously ruled in favour of the Arvind Kejriwal government saying that the real powers of governance of Delhi rests with the elected representatives. The judgement pronounced in the court by Chief Justice Dipak Misra also held that the LG cannot act as an "obstructionist".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 05, 2018 09:09 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).