Home Ministry issues notification, backs Najeeb Jung in battle with Kejriwal

Kejriwal compares MHA's notification to pre independence times

The Centre today directly stepped into the ongoing slugfest between the Lt Governor and the Delhi Chief Minister with the Home ministry issuing a gazette notification clearly stipulating that the LG had the sole jurisdiction over “Services” ie posting and transfers of officers and it was his “discretion” to consult the Chief Minister if he desires. The Central government notification thereby backed the LG on all points of dispute with the state government over the past fortnight. CM Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at the Centre accusing the Modi government of trying to run Delhi through the "backdoor" and of trying to protect the corrupt. He continued to persist with his accusation that the Centre issued gazette notification as it wants to “control transfer-posting” in Delhi.

What has rankled the Delhi government further is the Centre abrogating the Delhi Anti Corruption Branch of all powers to probe offences committed by officers of Central government services; Kejriwal wondered aloud who are the people the government was “trying to protect.” Significantly, Delhi does not have any service cadre of its own.  

READ THE FULL TEXT OF HOME MINISTRY NOTIFICATION

The notification issued by the Home Ministry, also cites Art 239AA of the Constitution and laws and rules to stat that the LG will have jurisdiction over matters connected with public order, police and land.

Without mincing his words, CM Kejriwal addressed a press conference within hours of the notification saying, "Pre-independence, Queen of England used to send notifications to the Viceroy here. Now, Jung Sahab is the Viceroy and PMO is London."

The CM stated that the AAP government was taking views of constitutional experts on the notification and a decision will be taken accordingly.

Kejriwal had even taken to Twitter to lambast the Centre alleging that it “showed the nervousness of BJP and the Centre” over the anti-corruption efforts by his government.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while addressing a press meet today said that "The circular issued by the Home Ministry is a clarificatory note... We do not want that due to confusion offices get locked," referring to the fate of bureaucrat IAS Anindo Majumdar who was locked out of his office by the Delhi Secretariat with the government refusing to comply with the LG’s orders.

Kejriwal said, "Earlier, a lot of money was changing hands for transfers but now that has ended under AAP government's three-month rule. Once we did it, Congress and BJP people failed to get contracts in Delhi. Then they went to the PMO.” "Now, they have brought this notification as the BJP and Congress want to have their own officers in Delhi and get government contracts for their own people and that is why they want control over the transfer-posting industry through the LG. By bringing in the notification, the Centre has back-stabbed the people of Delhi".