Jung vs Kejriwal: Delhi L-G wants back files cleared without his approval

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday directed all Delhi government departments to review decisions taken over the past one-and-a-half year and send all files for which approval has not been taken, to his office.

The decisions comes three days after the Delhi high court ruled that the lieutenant governor is the administrative head of the Capital.

A senior Delhi government official said the AAP government would soon move Supreme Court against the high court’s order and that “it will bring clarity on the issue”.

In a memorandum to the Delhi chief secretary on Monday, the secretary to L-G, Vijay Kumar, said that in light of the high court order, all decisions that need his approval “suffer from legal infirmities and will have consequential repercussions”.

The L-G directed the departments that no order will be issued in the future without the approval of the “competent authority as per the prevailing constitutional scheme”.

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The high court had on August 4 said the L-G is the administrative head of National Capital Territory of Delhi. It said the AAP government’s contention that he is bound to act on the advice of council of ministers was “without substance”.

The decision came after a long turf war over administrative jurisdiction between L-G Najeeb Jung and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s offices.

“All principal secretaries/secretaries/HODs and all heads of autonomous bodies/corporations/boards/institutions, etc., concerned should immediately review all such orders issued and identify, by August 2016, those cases where prior approval of the Lieutenant Governor though required was not taken,” the order said.

“All such cases may immediately be placed with appropriate proposal before the lieutenant governor, individually in the concerned file through proper channel and with the opinion/vetting of law department, wherever required,” it said.

The L-G office said the departments need to review all orders that need the L-G’s approval, including those related to statutory notifications, conferment of statutory powers, amendments to acts/rules/statutes, constitution/reconstitution of various boards/commissions/ committees and appointment of chairman/members.

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