Kejriwal asserts SC orders must be respected; L-G extends cooperation for Delhi's development

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal today assured the AAP dispensation of his support and cooperation for good governance and overall development of Delhi "as per the letter and spirit of Constitution", during a meeting with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia.

The meeting, which came two days after the Supreme Court ruled that the L-G had no independent power to take decisions and was bound by the elected government's advice, was the first since Kejriwal and some of his cabinet colleagues sat on a nine-day dharna at the L-G's office in their long-running fight for administrative powers to govern the national capital.

"Met Hon'ble CM @ArvindKejriwal & Hon'ble Dy. CM @msisodia. Assured them of my continued support & cooperation in the interest of good governance & overall development of Delhi as per the letter and spirit of Constitution," Baijal tweeted after the meeting.

Kejriwal thanked the L-G for his promise of support and cooperation expressing willingness to work together for development of Delhi.

"Thank you sir. All of us should work together for the development of Delhi. Constitution is supreme. Orders of SC become the law of the land. They must be respected," he said replying to Baijal's tweet.

The meeting assumed significance amid continuing tussle over powers to transfer officers of the Delhi government. The AAP dispensation in a directive formulated a new system that deposes powers of transfer and posting of officers to the Chief Minister, Deputy CM and ministers of the elected government.

The bureaucrats have refused to accept the new system claiming the "services" matters lied with the Lt. Governor. Prior to the new system, transfer and postings of officers were done by the L-G.

However, no details whether the matter was discussed in the meeting were available immediately.