Kejriwal-Jung showdown: CM warns babus not to bypass government and ministers

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has issued an order that any instructions — oral or written — from the L-G’s office or those issued by the acting chief secretary will have to be approved by the CM or the minister concerned.

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has issued an order that any instructions — oral or written — from the L-G’s office or those issued by the acting chief secretary will have to be approved by the CM or the minister concerned.

An-NDA-government-notification-issued-last-week-barred-the-ACB-from-registering-cases-against-central-officers-including-those-from-Delhi-police-escalating-an-all-out-turf-war-between-chief-minister-Arvind-Kejriwal-and-lieutenant-governor-Najeeb-Jung-Illustration-Sajith-Kumar

The chief minister issued the order, a copy of which is with HT, on Sunday amid the ongoing controversy over the appointment of senior officials, including chief secretary, in the Delhi government and the alleged intervention of the lieutenant governor’s office.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia also issued an order on Monday, asking the chief secretary to route all files through ministers and the CM.

Government sources said the CM office is concerned about “verbal orders” being issued by the L-G office like it happened in the case of principal secretary services Anindo Majumdar. The senior official was removed by the Delhi government but lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung declared it null and void.

Kejriwal’s office has categorically told the chief secretary and the administration that “no action will be taken by the administrative secretary/chief secretary on such direction/order till written directions are received from the chief minister or the minister in charge of the same”.

The order has asked the chief secretary and the principal secretaries/secretary and head of departments to strictly adhere to the order.

The order has been issued under the provisions of article 239 AA of the constitution, the government of national capital territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and the transaction of business of the government of NCT of Delhi rules, 1993 (TBR). The order points out that Rule 4 of the TBR makes it clear that the minister in-charge of a department is responsible for disposal of the business pertaining to that department.

“Chapter IV and V of the TBR outlines the method for disposal of business relating to hon’ble L-G’s executive function and procedure to be followed in case of difference of opinion between hon’ble L-G and a minister/council of minister. None of the three statutes authorise hon’ble L-G to issue any order/direction to chief secretary or any administrative secretary bypassing the minister in charge and/or the council of ministers,” says the order.

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