Najeeb Jung asks officials to refer all files to him
New Delhi : Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal are on a collision course with the former on Sunday seeking to stamp his authority by directing Delhi ministers and top officials to route all important files through him as per the constitutional framework and laid down procedures.
The directions by the Lt Governor came amid reports that Kejriwal has asked his ministers and senior officials of the Delhi government not to send files to Jung’s office.
A statement by the LG’s office said Jung has instructed that the directions by the chief minister be withdrawn.
The LG also made it clear that the role of the chief minister and the Council of Ministers was to aid and advise him while he was entitled to act solely on his own discretion.
Sources in the government said tension has been brewing between the AAP government and LG’s office on a number of issues.
“The Lt. Governor has informed the chief minister, drawing his attention to the relevant provisions of the Constitution, the GNCTD Act 1991 and Transaction of Business Rules 1993, which underscore the relationship between the Lt. Governor’s and the Chief Minister’s office… that the role of the chief minister and the Council of Ministers is to aid and advise the Lt. Governor where the latter is entitled to act solely on his own discretion and all files relating to matters for which Legislative Assembly can make law should come to the Lt. Governor for final approval,” the statement said.
It also said, “The Lt. Governor has instructed that the directions issued to the officers be withdrawn. He has made it incumbent on all officers to follow the Constitution, GNCTD Act 1991 and the Transaction of Business Rules 1993, in letter and in spirit.”
The AAP government, in its first stint, also had a major confrontation with Jung as it had tabled the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Assembly without getting his approval.
Both the Congress and the BJP had slammed AAP over the issue and had termed its move as unconstitutional and after failing to pass the bill, the then Kejriwal government had resigned in February 2014.
