The AAP government will challenge in the Supreme Court the Centre's ordinance related to transfer and posting of officers in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday and called the move "unconstitutional" and against democracy.
He charged that the Centre has entered into a direct confrontation with the Supreme Court over the issue of control over services matter as the ordinance "overturns" its verdict giving control to the elected government in Delhi over services matter.
"The Centre's ordinance on services matter is unconstitutional and against democracy. We will approach SC against it. The Centre brought the ordinance to overturn the SC verdict on services matter just hours after the apex court has shut for vacation," he told a press conference.
It is a direct contempt of the apex court, he said.
BJP-led Centre wants to obstruct his government's work, says Kejriwal
The chief minister alleged that the BJP-led Centre wanted to obstruct his government's work.
Calling the ordinance an attack on the federal structure, he said he will meet leaders of various parties to ensure the related bill is not passed by Rajya Sabha.
"We will go to people to talk about this and also organise a maha rally against this," he said.
Addressing the media, Kejriwal said, " They were waiting for the Supreme Court to be closed for summer vacations. They waited because they know this ordinance is illegal. They know it will not stand in the court for 5 minutes. When SC opens on July 1, we will challenge it."
The Union government on Friday brought an ordinance to notify rules for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) regarding the 'transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters'.
Ordinance to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991
The ordinance has been brought to amend the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and it circumvents the SC judgement in the Centre vs Delhi case.
Earlier in the day, Aam Aadmi Party Minister Atishi said that the party will oppose the "illegal and unconstitutional" ordinance in the Parliament and the court.
"Illegal unconstitutional ordinance"
"We will oppose this illegal unconstitutional ordinance on the road, in the Parliament and in the court as well. Will decide when and how to approach the court after consulting our legal and constitutional experts," said Atishi while speaking to ANI.
During a press conference, Atishi slammed the centre for the ordinance on control of services in the national capital and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government could not tolerate that Supreme Court "empowered" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Atishi said that the Supreme Court order meant if the people of Delhi elected Arvind Kejriwal, the decision-making power lies with him.
"The Supreme Court order meant that if the people of Delhi elected Arvind Kejriwal, decision-making power lies with him. That is what the Constitution says. Barring the issues of land, law and order and Police, all decision-making powers are with Arvind Kejriwal and LG is bound to accept all his decisions. This is democracy. But the Central Govt and BJP couldn't tolerate it. PM Narendra Modi couldn't tolerate the fact that Supreme Court empowered Arvind Kejriwal," said Delhi Education Minister Atishi.
Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj also termed the ordinance an "act of dishonesty and treachery"
