Curtailment of ACB power from probing cases is illegal: HC was told

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court was today told that curtailment of the powers of Anti-Corruption Branch from registering cases and investigating into the offences committed by officers of the central government is wholly illegal.

"Attempt of the Centre is clearly to create an exclusive class of officers/employees whose acts would be immunized from scrutiny by ACB," Justice V P Vaish was told by the AAP government.

The AAP government, in its rejoinder to the Centre, also said that it is surprising that the Union Of India is seeking to prevent ACB from performing its function of fighting corruption which has a direct impact and bearing on the lives of the citizens of the national capital and is on the contrary seeking to shield a particular class of persons.

The Centre had earlier responded to the city government's claim that LG Najeeb Jung did not consult Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the matter of assigning charge of officiating Chief Secretary in Shakuntala Gamlin saying it was "misplaced".

The submissions by the Union Home Ministry was made on a Delhi government's plea challenging the Centre's May 21 notification which gave the LG absolute powers to appoint bureaucrats to various posts in the national capital and barred ACB from proceeding against any staff under the Centre's control.