Tussle in Puducherry: Bedi wins first round

UNION HOME MINISTRY SAYS LT GOVERNOR IS ALL POWERFUL IN UNION TERRITORY

PUDUCHERRY:: Lt Governor Kiran Bedi seems to have won this round of battle with chief minister V Narayansamy when it comes to absolute powers that can be exercised by the Raj Bhavan.

According to sources close to the Lt Governor, the union home ministry has clarified the position of the LG in a union territory, which is wider in its scope and powers as compared to the position of a governor in a full-fledged state.

The Union home ministry’s clarifications came after a memorandum by chief minister Narayansamy on the powers of the Lt Governor.

While the communication from the Union home ministry makes it clear that the LG has full powers to call for papers of any particular department, deal with officials if he/she so wishes, it also says the LG would not have the power to order the chief minister, minister or elected representatives.

The LG can at best request them to make a presentation or clarify doubts if any, on a government programme and policy, the Union home ministry said.

The home ministry’s ruling is based on Rule No 21 (5) under which it said the LG has the power to call for a file of any particular case.

The chief minister had questioned Bedi’s powers to do the same and raised the issue with the union home ministry recently.

It is the same rule that gives her the scope to interact with official directly, over the head of the elected representatives.

Otherwise, the administration is carried out by the chief secretary and the secretaries, who in turn interact with the elected representatives.

Essentially, the home ministry has clarified thatLt Governor in a union territory can act on his or her own, without the advice of the council of ministers. And in case of any difference of opinion can send the matter to the central government or president and in case of emergency can take a decision at the LG level itself.