On a day when the Delhi High Court ruled that Delhi remains a Union Territory (UT) and the Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) was its administrative head, the Centre said the Delhi government “committed a mistake” by going to the court.
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The L-G directed the departments that no order will be issued in the future without the approval of the “competent authority as per the prevailing constitutional scheme”.
All cabinet decisions and appointments made by the state government where the consent of the Lieutenant Governor was required but not taken would be reviewed by Jung.
“The RTI shows how serious Arvind Kejriwal is towards the law and order situation in Delhi and on the issue of women security in the capital”, Khurana said.
Jung’s move may further strain his relations with Kejriwal who is on a meditation course in a hill station near Dharamsala.
The high court had on August 4 said the L-G is the administrative head of National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Delhi government sources said L-G secretariat’s note to the departments said: “Secretaries, principal secretaries and heads of all the departments, autonomous bodies, boards, corporations and institutions concerned should immediately review all such orders and identify by August 17 those cases where prior approval of the L-G was required but not taken”.
The Centre has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court stating that it should be heard when the apex court decides the matter on the Union Territory (UT) status of Delhi after the AAP government chose to challenge the recent High Court judgment here.
This was revealed in an RTI reply filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Harish Khurana, citing the response he received from the Chief Minister’s office, Delhi Police Commissioner Alok Kumar Verma and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.
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The L-G office said the departments need to review all orders that need the L-G’s approval, including those related to statutory notifications, conferment of statutory powers, amendments to acts/rules/statutes, constitution/reconstitution of various boards/commissions/ committees and appointment of chairman/members.
