Deepening the crisis in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal attacked the Central government Wednesday over delegation of powers in the Capital and the Union Home Ministry moved the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order that called “suspect” a ministry notification barring the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) from acting against its officials. The notification had also underlined the supremacy of the Lt Governor in matters concerning Delhi. Wrapping up a discussion on a resolution — it was passed later — that called the Home Ministry notification “unconstitutional and invalid”, Kejriwal criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Home Ministry and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. AAP MLA from Rithala, Mahinder Goyal, even tore up a copy of the notification on the floor of the Delhi Assembly. [related-post] “There is a big conspiracy to bring down the AAP government and this notification is part of that. Since we assumed power, the Centre has been using either the L-G or the police to create obstacles for us. even my headmaster did not interfere this much. I want to ask, if Kiran Bedi was Chief Minister, would the L-G have interfered so much. They say this is a constitutional crisis. This is a political crisis,” Kejriwal said. He called the NDA government “dictatorial”, and said it was treating “Delhi as an experiment” and would use this tactic in other states. “I want to ask all non-BJP chief ministers to come together against these practices or they will be next. I will write to all non-BJP chief ministers. they have tried to amend the Constitution without a discussion in Parliament. The notification not only threatens the role of the Legislative Assembly but Parliament and I urge MPs to speak against this,” he said. Kejriwal argued that it was the office of the Chief Minister that was ultimately accountable to the people of Delhi, and not the Lt Governor. “When people say that there is no power and water, who will answer, I or the Lt Governor? My MLAs have told me that in the past four days, indiscipline has increased. Officers will stop listening. The public has trusted us with a mandate and we should be able to appoint a team,” he said. As the Assembly passed the resolution, the Home Ministry moved Supreme Court. The Special Leave Petition appeals against the May 25 order of the High Court which was hearing a bail application of a Delhi Police constable arrested by the Delhi ACB on a bribery charge. The SLP questions the propriety of the HC order in commenting against the May 21 notification — the Ministry stated that the ACB could not move against Central government staff and underlined that absolute power rested with the Lt Governor — although arguments had been concluded on the bail plea on May 20. While dismissing the bail application of the constable, the High Court termed as “suspect” the Centre’s notification and held that the Lt Governor cannot act on his discretion. It noted that the Lt Governor is bound to act upon the aid and advice of the council of ministers, who are directly elected by the citizens of Delhi, and that the Centre’s “executive fiat” siding with him is “suspect”.
