CM sinks teeth into debate with l-G over defanged ACB getting its bite back
In the midst of a bitter power tussle, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday met lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and reportedly discussed functioning of the elite Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), a day after Delhi High Court ruled that it has authority to probe Central Government officials, including Delhi Police personnel. This is the first meeting between the two since the confrontation began. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Chief Secretary KK Sharma accompanied Kejriwal.
At a meeting, which lasted for around 20 minutes, Kejriwal apprised Jung of the High Court ruling about the powers of the ACB and his views on the issue, sources in the Government said. The issue of transfer and posting of officials was also discussed in the meeting as transfer-posting orders are issued by Secretary (Services) whose order had been declared void ab initio by the lieutenant Governor.
The meeting came on a day when a two-day session of the Delhi Assembly began, which has been called to deliberate on the Centre’s notification giving absolute powers to the lt. Governor in appointment of bureaucrats and issues relating to police and public order.
Sources said Kejriwal briefed the lt Governor about the agenda of the two-day Assembly session and expressed his readiness to work with Jung to ensure effective governance.
The appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Doley Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary by the l-G last week had triggered a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and Jung, with Kejriwal questioning l-G’s authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration. Both sides had exchanged a number of letters questioning each other’s authority in transfer and posting of officials as well as on other issues.