LG Jung hits back at Kejriwal over Chief Secy appointment row

The war of words between Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal escalated on Friday over the Chief Secretary appointment row with the former stating that the name proposed by the AAP Government did not figure in the list of names submitted by the services department.

"The name proposed by the Hon'ble Chief Minister did not figure in the list of names submitted by the Services Department and the concerned officer has not even been given a posting by the Delhi Government so far," said a statement issued by Jung's office.

"Under Article 239 AA of the Constitution of India, the Lt. Governor is the representative of State Authority in Delhi. In appointment of Chief Secretary he is competent to designate the officiating Chief Secretary in consultation with the Hon'ble Chief Minister," it added.

The statement further said the file for the posting of the officiating Chief Secretary was submitted to the Lt. Governor on May 13 and was cleared immediately.

"He approved the name of Ms Shakuntala Gamlin as against the name proposed by the Hon'ble Chief Minister considering she was senior and has a proven track record," it added.

"There was nothing on file submitted to the Lt. Governor that indicated that the government had anything against Ms. Gamlin and the Lt. Governor regrets the name of a senior officer being brought in public domain in such a manner, that too a lady officer and one belonging to the North East," the statement further said.

"The Lt. Governor had to order the Services Department to make the appointment since the office of the Chief Secretary cannot be left inordinately vacant and the Hon'ble Chief Minister had not cleared the file that had the Lt. Governor's advise for over 36 hours," it added.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government had earlier accused the Lieutenant Governor of acting in an unconstitutional manner by issuing instructions directly to the Secretary (Services) to give the additional charge of Chief Secretary of Delhi to senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin.

The Delhi government said that Jung had acted against the "Constitution, GNCT of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business Rules".