L-G’s circle rate ‘interference’ has Sheila writing to Centre

Khanna,who wants different rates than what the Cabinet decided on,insists the Constitution empowers him to do so. But the government says a decision on circle rates should logically be its exclusive domain. “Following the controversy,the Cabinet unanimously decided that it will not budge from its decision,arrived at after much research. We also decided to apprise the Home Minister about the developments,” said a minister.

Had the government not written to the Home Ministry and returned the file a third time,Khanna had the right to refer it to the President.

In the letter,the government has argued that the L-G is insisting on a set of new circle rates even though seven ministers,including the Chief Minister,have already taken a decision,a minister said. The letter also mentions that Khanna should have followed precedents before trying to impose a new set of circle rates that he seems to have decided on his own,he said. “There is a precedent where the L-Gs have consulted the minister concerned on issues where they differed with the Cabinet. There have also been instances when they consulted the Cabinet in case of disagreement.” The government has also used the stand-off to press for its demand for more autonomy,an official said. “The letter conveys that the current administrative set-up,heavily dependent on the Centre,often leads to problems like the circle rate logjam,” the official said.

The government said on issues like the circle rate stand-off which are delayed because of the involvement of various Central government agencies,only the elected representatives are answerable to the public.