Circle rates notification lands in turf war as l-G orders status quo

Ratcheting up the strife between the lieutenant-Governor (l-G) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government in Delhi, Najeeb Jung on Monday issued an order to maintain status quo on the new circle rates for agricultural land notified by the Arvind Kejriwal Government.

According to the order issued by the l-G’s office, the new circle rates would not be implemented till further orders.  An order to this effect has been issued to all 33 Sub-Registrar offices in the national Capital. According to sources, the l-G’s office is also consulting legal and constitutional experts on the legality of the notification issued on August 4. 

Taking a serious note of the move by the Kejriwal Government to notify new circle rates on agricultural land without his approval, the l-G has called for all files related to issuance of circle rates. 

“Till such a time a final decision is conveyed, it may please be ensured that no further action is taken in pursuance of notification (F.1(953)/Regn.Br./Div.Com./HQ/2014/191 dated August 4. Should any action be taken in the interim, it could lead to legal complications for the Government as well as the prospective sellers/buyers of land. It is therefore, the responsibility of the administrative department to ensure full compliance of the direction,” SCl Das, Secretary to the l-G said in a communiqué to the Revenue Department. 

The l-G’s office has also forwarded a copy of this communiqué to Joint Secretary (UT) of Ministry of Home Affairs, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Principal Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister and Secretary (Revenue). It would be pertinent to mention that the Arvind Kejriwal Government had decided to notify the circle rates despite suggestions made by Chief Secretary KK Sharma, Secretary (Revenue) Ashwini Kumar and Secretary (law) R Kiran Nath that the notification needs the l-G’s approval.