Circle rates notice pits Govt against l-G

The issue of notification pertaining to hike in circle rates has turned out to be the bone of contention between the law Department and the Delhi Government. It all started after the Delhi Government insisted that the notification should be issued without lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung’s nod, something that has not gone down well with the Raj Niwas. 

Taking a serious note, the AAP Government has ordered surrendering of an Assistant legal Adviser posted with the law Department for advising the Government that the proposal pertaining to hike in circle rates needs the l-G’s permission.This has led to no work by law Department on Thursday as no legal advice was furnished to the Government in protest. Delhi law Minister Kapil Mishra has held a meeting with law Department officials and made it clear that they would have to toe the Delhi Government line.

According to well placed sources, the AAP Government has reportedly warned Principal Secretary (law) to adhere to the Government directions. Principal Secretary (law) has met the l-G in the evening and reportedly apprised him about the AAP Government’s direction. Also, Principal Secretary (law) has tried to meet the law Minister but did not get an appointment.

Earlier, irked at the law Department’s noting, law Minister Kapil Mishra summoned all officials and asked them follow AAP Government’s directive. In the process, one Assistant legal Advisor was surrendered from his official position. Stern action did not go down well among all officials of the department as they decided not to give legal advice to any department to mark their protest. Though this was no declared kind of strike but the resentment among officials of law department was visible. When asked, chief secretary KK Sharma refused to comment on the issue. 

It would be pertinent to mention that the AAP Government had earlier directed the Revenue Department officials to issue notification on circle rates without approval of the l-G. The Revenue department had sent  the file to chief secretary for further course of action.Reacting on the fresh controversy, former Delhi Assembly speaker Yoganand Shastri said the Arvind Kejriwal Government doesn’t want legal advice and this Government is torturing officials. “The Kejriwal Government wants that officials should not give their advice as per law or GNCT Act but simply they should follow the Government order,” Shastri added.