AAP Government Moves Resolution in Delhi Assembly Against Centre's Decree

The AAP government on Tuesday moved a resolution during a special session of Delhi Assembly against the Centre's notification giving absolute powers to Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on transfer and postings of senior bureaucrats and restricting the state's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) from probing central government employees.

The Delhi government moved the resolution even though Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met Jung for the first time since the stand-off began between the two over postings and transfers of bureaucrats.

Moving the resolution, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said issuance of the notification was an "insult" to the "biggest mandate" the people of Delhi had given in the assembly polls held earlier this year, PTI reported.

Alleging that the Ministry of Home Affairs' notification was in violation of the Constitution, Sisodia said the resolution was presented before the House as attempts were being made to curb the rights of a democratically-elected government.

Slamming the central government, Sisodia said that tomorrow it could say that the state doesn't control the sources of water so it couldn't supply water to the city.

The Centre's notification gave absolute powers to the LG in appointment of bureaucrats and also clarified that there was no need for him to consult the chief minister or any other minister on subjects like police and public order.

The notification has also barred the Delhi government's ACB from registering any case against officers and political functionaries of the central government.

However, in a moral as well as political victory for the AAP government, the Delhi High Court had on Monday ruled that the ACB enjoyed the authority to investigate central government officials, including the Delhi Police personnel.

After stand-off, Kejriwal meets Jung
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal met Jung a few hours before the start of Delhi assembly's emergency session, called to discuss the Centre's notification.

IANS reported quoting sources that Kejriwal showed Jung the high court order allowing the ACB to investigate Delhi Police officials caught on corruption charges. He also apprised Jung of his views on the issue, sources added.

Dismissing the bail plea of a head constable arrested on graft charges, the high court had said the city government's ACB had "jurisdiction to investigate and prosecute" Delhi Police officials.

Kejriwal was accompanied by his deputy Sisodia and recently appointed Chief Secretary KK Sharma.

A tussle over bureaucratic appointments broke out between Jung and Kejriwal, triggered by the appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as the acting chief secretary on May 15. Kejriwal had accused Gamlin of lobbying for power distribution companies.

- With inputs from PTI and IANS