Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal questions Najeeb Jung on provision of issuing directives

NEW DELHI: Hours after Lt Governor Najeeb Jung directed the AAP government not to breach constitutional provisions and laid down norms, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal hit back at him asking under what provision has he issued such directives.

In a quick reply to Jung's letter to him, Kejriwal asked the Lt Governor to elaborate provisions in the Constitution, the government of NCT of Delhi Act and Transaction of Business Rules that give him powers to issue directions.

In a letter to Kejriwal earlier in the day, Jung said he has the sole powers to transfer and appoint IAS officials, DANICS (Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) officials and those belonging to DASS (Delhi Administrative Subordinate Services) cadre.

The DASS cadre employees include peons and clerks. "In the letter, the chief minister has asked Lt Governor to kindly inform the city administration under which provisions of the Constitution, the government of NCT of Delhi Act and Transaction of Business Rules, has he issued directions on issues relating to transfer and posting of bureaucrats as well as some other matters," a source said.

Jung termed as "unconstitutional" the orders by Kejriwal asking officers to put up files directly to ministers, asserting that some directives by AAP regime have tended to "obfuscate" the special position that Delhi has as the national capital.

In his letter, Jung also told Kejriwal that all the appointments made by the AAP government without his approval in the past four days were not valid, insisting that he was the sole authority in matters of ordering transfer and posting of bureaucrats.