Delhi LG issues memorandum, warns officials

Another bout of political slugfest between Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung and the Arvind Kejriwal government in the national capital seems imminent as Jung has issued a memorandum to officers posted with the state government, warning against obeying "illegal" orders.

Reacting to the memorandum, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Friday: "Received a memorandum from LG (Najeeb Jung), in which he says that he has issued instructions (received) from the central government."

"My request to the central government is: Can't we fight on these issues after two months? Let us fight dengue for now," the chief minister said.

In a memorandum dated September 17 to all officers posted with the Delhi government, including officers of All India Services, heads of departments and others, the Lt. Governor said, "The government of India has taken note of the current constitutional position in Delhi and major instances of violation of the constitution, law and rules."

It said that change in the pay structure of Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service officers, according to the government of India, was "illegal and ab initio void".

The memorandum said that if any officer complied with the "illegal" orders, disciplinary action and recovery of financial loss caused to the government would follow.

"The orders declared illegal by the government of India should not be complied with. Should any officer choose to do so, both disciplinary action for compliance of illegal orders, and recovery of financial loss caused to the government as a result of such action, would follow," it said.