Delhi power tussle: Kejriwal meets Rajnath Singh

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss the July 4 Supreme Court verdict on the power tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief told the home minister that Lt Governor Anil Baijal and the Centre was interpreting the apex court order in their own way.

“Met him over SC order on powers of Delhi government. Told him LG and Centre is interpreting order in their own way. Order mentions ‘Services’ -management of administrative officers lies with the Delhi government but the LG and the Centre are refusing to abide by the order,” ANI quoted Kejriwal as saying.

On July 4, the Supreme Court ruled that the Lieutenant Governor did not have independent decision-making powers and was bound to act on the aid and advice of the Delhi government’s council of ministers.

The Delhi government introduced a new system for transfer and postings of bureaucrats hours after the apex court verdict. However, the services department refused to comply, saying the Supreme Court did not abolish the notification issued in 2015 which made the home minister the authority for transfers and postings.

(With inputs from PTI)