Won’t heed Home Ministry’s order on CNG scam: Manish Sisodia to Lt-Governor

“I wish to state that the government of NCT of Delhi is not a subordinate department of the home ministry. The Delhi government is a constitutionally elected government, which is accountable to the people of Delhi and to the state legislative assembly. Delhi is not accountable to the home ministry under the Constitution, the home ministry does not have any powers to declare any order of the Delhi government void,” wrote Sisodia.

[related-post]

“It is only the judiciary which has the powers to declare our orders void. The home ministry seems to be attempting to encroach upon the domain of the judiciary, which is dangerous. Therefore, the communication from the home ministry can best be treated as opinion of the ministry,” the letter added.

“Besides, the home ministry has issued this communication at a time when the matter is sub-judice. Setting up of the commission of inquiry has been challenged in a public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court…,” Sisodia said.

The Delhi government made it clear that its probe into the scam would continue irrespective of the home ministry’s directions. “I urge you to kindly inform the home ministry that if at all it is aggrieved, it may approach the judiciary. The commission of inquiry will continue to work and we expect everyone to cooperate with its proceedings,” Sisodia told Jung.

The Delhi BJP hit out at the AAP government. “The Anti-Corruption Branch has already lodged an FIR and there is no justification for forming an inquiry commission. Everybody knows that inquiry commissions only result in wastage of time as they only make recommendations,” said Delhi BJP spokesperson Harish Khurana.

During his meeting with Modi on Tuesday, Kejriwal had told him how orders and decisions passed by him were instantly declared null and void by the Centre.