Undeterred by SC verdict, bureaucrats reject Delhi government's order yet again

A day after landmark Supreme Court verdict that made it clear that the elected government in the national capital doesn’t need Lieutenant Governor’s concurrence on every file, the bureaucrats again rejected an order of the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government.

Hours after the SC judgment, the Kejriwal government had issued an order withdrawing all powers of transfer and posting of IAS officers and other employees from the Lieutenant Governor.

Undeterred from the apex court’s verdict on the tussle for power in Delhi, the bureaucrats returned the order issued by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, saying it was “legally incorrect”.

Furious over the bureaucrats’ move to reject the order, the AAP government threatened to go to court against the “contempt of the constitution bench.”

"The chief secretary has written to me saying the services department will not follow the orders. If they are not going to abide by it and the transfer files will still be seen by the LG then it will amount to contempt of the constitution bench. We are consulting our lawyers," NDTV quoted Manish Sisodia as saying.

Also Read | Delhi Power Tussle: Supreme Court verdict a big victory for democracy, says Kejriwal 

Earlier on Wednesday, the apex court had ruled that the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) can’t have independent decision-making power and was bound by the aide and advice of the Council of Ministers.

The court said that while all decisions of the Council of Ministers in Delhi must be communicated to the LG but that does not mean his concurrence is required on all the matters.

The apex court made it clear that the Delhi government had the power to legislate and govern on all the issues except for three issues – land, police and law and order.