This refers to the editorial, “Come together” (July 6). The Supreme Court has only reiterated the constitutional position for governance in Delhi. There could be no dispute over real power resting with the elected Government.
However, the priority of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was exposed when the very first decisions he took was thrusting upon themselves the power to transfer IAS, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS), Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DASS) and other officials.
Supreme Court ruling said Delhi is a Union Territory (UT), IAS officers posted here are UT or AGMUT (Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territory) cadre, DANICS officials are of Delhi and Andaman and Nicobar Island Civil Services cadre. Response by the bureaucracy was that an order by Deputy Chief Minister of half-state/UT with regard to assuming absolute powers to transfer top IAS officers to subordinate staff could not override presidential notification of May 21, 2015, which entrusted l-G, Chief Secretary and secretary services with the task. Kejriwal’s prime demands of full statehood to Delhi and authority over land, police and law and order have been rejected by the Court. Kejriwal is now left with no option but to work in cooperation with the l-G and the Centre.