Delhi CM Requests Lt Governor To Work Within Confines Of Law
16 May, New Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday wrote a letter to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung strongly requesting him to work within the confines of law, amid conflict over the appointment of Shankuntala Gamlin as the chief secretary of Delhi.
Shakuntala Gamlin defied the Chief Minister’s request and took charge as acting Delhi Chief Secretary Saturday afternoon.
In his letter, Kejriwal said this is a thinly disguised attempt to render ineffective, the democratically elected government.
He asked Lt Governor to remain within confines of the constitution and remove Gamlin from the post.
The Chief Minister also asked Najeeb Jung not to show political favouritism and perform as per law.
Responding to the letter, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung said he is fully conscious of his duties and responsibilities under the Constitution.
A statement released by the office of the Lt. Governor said that till date, not a single action taken by the Lt Governor’s Secretariat is in non-conformity with the Constitution. The statement also clarified that removal of Principal Secretary (Services), Anindo Majumdar from his position does not have Mr Jung’s approval and therefore, the order is void.
Delhi government had removed Anindo Majumdar from his post after he issued the order to appoint Ms.Gamlin as the acting Chief Secretary.
Jung on Friday gave the additional charge of Chief Secretary to Gamlin, hours after she wrote a letter to the Lt. Governor claiming that she was pressurised by a senior bureaucrat in the Chief Minister’s office not to be in race for the post due to her alleged proximity to BSES discoms.
As the conflict intensified, Chief Minister Kejriwal has sought an appointment with the President to apprise him of the situation.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has said that Lieutenant Governor has no right to directly communicate with any official of Delhi Government.
Talking to media, Sisodia alleged that BJP is trying to topple an elected government through the Lieutenant Governor.
However, Jung had promptly rebutted the AAP government’s allegations saying under Article 239 AA of the Constitution, the Lt Governor is the representative of State Authority in Delhi.
Meanwhile, BJP alleged that AAP government is indulging in politics of confrontation. Talking to media, state party chief Satish Upadhyay said Lt Governor is the Constitutional head of Delhi and under the Constitution, everyone has different duties and responsibilities.
He alleged that along with Chief Minister’s role, Kejriwal also wants to don the part of Lieutenant Governor.
Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the conflict is neither good for Delhi nor for the administration.
Talking to reporters, Ms Dikshit said that it gives an impression that the Arvind Kejriwal government wants to divert the attention from the promises they made during the election. She said, this conflict will bring loss for Delhi.
Meanwhile, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has supported the stand taken by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the appointment of acting Chief Secretary of Delhi.
In his tweet, Omar said, a Chief Minister must be free to choose his own team of officers. Rejecting the Lt. Governor’s assertion on the issue, he said this back seat driving damages the democracy.