Jan Lokpal issue: Central law will prevail, says Congress MP Shantaram Naik

NEW DELHI: With the Arvind Kejriwal government adamant on tabling the Jan Lokpal bill in Delhi Assembly, a senior Congress MP today said in case of a conflict between a central law and a state law, the legislation enacted by the Centre will prevail.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP and chairman of standing committee on Law and Personnel Shantaram Naik also said that the concept of holding Assembly sessions in public places, "defying and abusing constitutional authorities" and introducing a concept of legislating on streets has "no place" in Indian democracy.

He was referring to the Kejriwal government's plan to introduce the bill in the Delhi assembly on February 13 and discuss it for two days before shifting the proceedings to a sports stadium for passage of the bill.

In a statement issued here, Naik said prior sanction of the Lt Governor was necessary before introducing a bill in the Delhi assembly.

In a legal opinion tendered to Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran has said that Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, passed last year by Parliament, is in force and a Lokpal Bill in Delhi will be repugnant to the central law. Therefore, it will require the assent of the President.

Kejriwal today threatened to "go to any extent" over his pet anti-graft legislation, the Jan Lokpal Bill, which is opposed both by Congress, whose continued support is essential for the survival of his government, and BJP.

The CM also said the state government has written to the Home Minister to withdraw an order which directs the Delhi government to take approval of the ministry before passage of any bill in the Assembly and asserted that the city government cannot follow these "unconstitutional rules."