The Arvind Kejriwal Government’s attempt to provide grandiose office to 21 MlAs at the Delhi Assembly premises has hit the wall.
The ongoing tug of war between lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has intensified further as the former has forwarded the Delhi legislative Assembly Members (Prevention of Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill 2015 to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The Bill was passed by the Delhi Assembly during the recent Budget session. The Government had moved the Bill to keep 21 of its MlAs who have been appointed as parliamentary secretaries with different Minister’s out of the ambit of the office of profit.
According to sources, the Government has received flak for appointing as many as 21 parliamentary secretaries and then for introducing the Bill to shield these MlAs from any action under the office of profit rule.
With the Delhi Assembly passing the Bill with a thumping majority, the same can become an Act only if it is notified by the lieutenant Governor. But the lieutenant Governor has refused to notify it and has in turn referred it to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
This move of the lieutenant Governor will put the issue in the court of the MHA to take a judicious and legal view and then give its stamp of approval.
Sources said the lieutenant Governor has referred the Bill to the Home Ministry because there were financial implications involved in it.
All the Bills having financial implications in the NCT of Delhi can be tabled in the Delhi Assembly only after having prior approval of the Centre. In this case, the Government had not only tabled the Bill but also got it
passed without taking prior approval of the Centre.