L-G Jung shows rulebook to AAP government

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung said on Thursday that the Delhi High Court verdict was about following rules and not about personalities or victory or

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung said on Thursday that the Delhi High Court verdict was about following rules and not about personalities or victory or loss.

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“It (court verdict) is not a victory of anyone. It is not a win for Najeeb Jung and loss for Arvind Kejriwal… Kejriwal and Najeeb Jung are immaterial, Constitutional norms are important. The court order is a kind of clarification that incorrect things will have to be corrected,” Jung said.

In a setback for the Kejriwal government, the Delhi High Court on Thursday held that the L-G was the administrative head of the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the AAP government’s contention that he was bound to act on the advice of Council of Ministers was “without substance”.

The L-G said a number of Delhi government’s decisions had to be corrected as they did not have his approval. In this context, he mentioned the government’s proposal to impose cess on discoms for power cuts, appointment of government representatives on the board of discoms and certain orders relating to taxes.

Jung was responding to questions about the road ahead following the high court’s verdict on administrative jurisdiction between the L-G office and the chief minister’s office.

The Lieutenant Governor, who has had a long running battle with the AAP government on a host of jurisdictional issues, read out the oath of office to state that he was only protecting the Constitutional provisions. Jung said his disagreement with some decisions of the AAP government was restricted to the extent where they were at variance with the rulebook.

“I do report to the Centre, but (it is) wrong to say we act against interest of Delhi government,” he said to the oft-repeated allegation of the AAP government that Jung was acting as an “agent of the Centre”.

Jung played down criticism that the continued stalemate over jurisdictional issues has affected governance in the Capital. “Ninety-nine per cent matters that came to us have been cleared. What has been stuck could be counted on fingers,” he said.

He clarified there was no ill will behind the Centre not clearing several bills passed by the Delhi Assembly. Jung said all the 14 Bills that were sent to him were forwarded to the Centre, which is “looking into it”.

“Any bill that has a financial implication or chance of being repugnant with a central law should get prior approval of the Centre. As far as the five bills relating to enhancing salaries of MLAs are concerned, following communication on them by the Centre, I had sought certain clarifications but the government has not responded. I have sent three reminders. I am yet to hear from them,” Jung said.

Responding to the personal attacks on him by the AAP leaders, including chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Jung said he did not start the slugfest and his “office has never used abusive language against anybody”.

“My DNA is such that I don’t get affected by abusive language,” he said.

Asked about AAP government’s decision to challenge the high court verdict in the Supreme Court, Jung said, “They (Delhi government) do not have a case.”