Headlines
Ex-solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam backs AAP government
New Delhi, May 20
Former solicitor general
Gopal Subramaniam on Wednesday said Delhi's Lt. Governor cannot overrule
the state government's decisions as this would "violate the
constitutional scheme".
The Supreme Court lawyer submitted his
legal opinion to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over powers of the
Delhi government and the Lt. Governor in the appointment and transfer
of secretaries.
In his letter, Subramaniam said: "The exercise of
powers by the government of Delhi cannot be overruled by the Lt.
Governor, as this would violate constitutional scheme."
"In
particular, it would be ultra vires Articles 14 and 239AA and would also
fall foul of the basic structure of the constitution as it undermines
the basic features of democracy and the cabinet form of government."
Among
other provisions, Article 239AA states: "Provided that in the case of
difference of opinion between the Lt. Governor and his ministers on any
matter, the Lt. Governor shall refer it to the president for decision
and act according to the decision given thereon by the president and
pending such decision... take such action or to give such direction in
the matter as he deems necessary."
In his letter sent to AAP
government, the former solicitor general said, "Given this position of
law, it would be constitutionally unviable for the Lt. Governor to act
de hors the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers on any such
matter."
"Any such action would be clearly contrary to the
provisions of Articles 14 and 239AA, as well as being ultra vires the
provisions of the Government of National Capital Territory Act, 1991,
and the Transaction of the Business of the Government Rules, 1993."
"For Lt. Governor to act in such a manner would completely undermine the mandate of an elected government," he added.
A
tussle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt. Governor
Najeeb Jung started over the appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala
Gamlin as the acting chief secretary.
The chief minister has accused Gamlin of lobbying for power distribution companies.
LG alone competent to approve transfer, posting, says office
Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb
Jung's office on Wednesday issued a statement saying the lt. governor
alone was competent to approve transfer and posting of principal
secretary or secretary-level officers.
The statement was issued
hours after the Jung wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cancelling
all transfers and postings by the city government in the past four days.
The
statement said the orders and communication sent by the Delhi
government to the lt. governor's office have tended to "obfuscate the
special position that Delhi has, as the national capital, which is
significantly different from other states".
"Delhi is a union
territory with a legislative assembly and not a state and therefore has
important points of distinction," the statement said.
It said the
orders issued by the Delhi government were fundamentally "at variance
with the constitution since service matters were assigned to the lt.
governor under the powers delegated to him by the president".