DIDN’T BLOCK ANY WELFARE SCHEME, SAYS KIRAN BEDI

CHANDIGARH : On February 16, Kiran Bedi, the first woman Indian Police Officer, was removed as Puducherry lieutenant governor, abruptly ending her tenure marked by her frequent run-ins with the Congress government in the Union Territory.

In an interview with Executive Editor Ramesh Vinayak on Saturday, the Amritsar-born feisty social activist spoke about the powers of the L-G, and the allegations of non-cooperation levelled against her by CM V Narayanasamy. She defended her decisions, saying that she did not block any welfare scheme but ensured diligence and transparency in public spending.

On February 16, Kiran Bedi, the first woman Indian Police Officer, was removed as Puducherry lieutenant governor, abruptly ending her tenure marked by her frequent run-ins with the Congress government in the Union Territory. In an interview with Executive Editor Ramesh Vinayak on Saturday, the Amritsar-born feisty social activist, who briefly and unsuccessfully dabbled into politics before her appointment to the constitutional post, defended her decisions, spoke about the powers of the L-G, and the allegations of non-cooperation levelled against her by CM V Narayanasamy. Edited excerpts:

The constitutional framework for the lieutenant governor of Puducherry provided that you had to work on the aid and advice of the council of ministers. But chief minister V Narayanasamy alleged that you did not?

In terms of Section 44 of the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, read with Rules of Business from time to time made thereunder, all decisions taken by the cabinet are to be placed before the lieutenant governor before they are acted upon by the administrative department concerned. In 95% of the cases, I went along with the decisions taken by the cabinet. In case of difference of opinion, the lieutenant governor is required to refer the matter to the central government and the decision of the Centre is binding.

Your interpretation of the 2018 Supreme Court order in the case related to powers of the Delhi government and the L-G was totally different from the CM. You said that it provided the L-G the powers to intervene in day-to-day functioning of the government. Why do you think you were right?

The administrative set-up of the Union Territory of Puducherry is not that of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Union Territory of Puducherry is governed by the provisions of the

Government of Union Territories Act, 1963. In respect of the Government of NCT of Delhi, it is governed by the constitutional provisions. The Supreme Court has categorically ruled that the NCT of Delhi is a sue generis (of its own kind) among the Union Territories, and therefore its order is applicable only to Delhi.

Puducherry and Delhi have been created under different constitutional norms. Law and order do not come under the CM in Delhi but it is under the CM in Puducherry. So, what sort of similarity did you see between Delhi and Puducherry in terms of governance?

The UT of Puducherry is on a different footing. Though law and order is a subject on which the Puducherry legislature can enact a law, such enactment requires the approval of the central government.

The CM had alleged that you did not approve funds for building a dam or providing relief to fishermen and blocked almost every proposal of his government. How true is this?

I did not block any welfare scheme but ensured diligence in public spending and transparency and fair deal in welfare assistances.

Instead of asking the government to clarify, you were summoning senior officials to your office and reprimanding them. What was the reason behind that?

The lieutenant governor is competent to call for any file and discuss the matter with officers as per the UT Act and Rules. This position has also been confirmed by the division bench of the Madras high court.

How do you see your longrunning confrontation with the CM, who was from the Congress?

Their political needs were in variance with the rule of law.

Even though you were L-G, there was a sense that you were trying to govern the UT. You went to streets and tried to regulate traffic and force people to wear a helmet. Is this work of an L-G or a traffic cop?

The lieutenant governor of a UT is virtually a functional L-G, and nothing bars him/her in reaching out to the people. The Supreme Court-appointed committee issued directions to the UT administration to ensure compliance of helmet wearing by two-wheeler riders. The Motor Vehicles Act is applicable throughout the country, including the UT of Puducherry. Since 2016, whenever the police enforced the law, the chief minister stopped the enforcement. Therefore, I had to intervene.

You nominated three BJP leaders to the assembly without consulting the government. These nominations are for persons of eminence. Was this legally and morally correct?

I have not nominated the MLAs. It is the prerogative of the central government and accordingly they were nominated, and the validity of nomination has been legally upheld by the Supreme Court. There is no law that prohibits the nomination of political leaders.

How do you respond to the Congress government’s charge that you had reduced the L-G office to an extension counter of the BJP?

This is a blatant lie.

Why do you think you were removed as the L-G?

The lieutenant governor continues in office at the pleasure of the President of India. There is no fixed tenure for the L-G’s office. I had completed four years and nine months in the office.

The perception is that you have been eased out ahead of the assembly elections to blunt the Congress government tirade that you didn’t let it perform at the behest of the BJP.

It is a presumption.

The CM called your removal “a victory for the people of the Union Territory”.

This is the presumption of the chief minister.

You had a political innings where you were projected as the Delhi CM. In that election, the BJP got its lowest number of seats. How much blame do you take for that loss?

Total blame. I owned it.

How do you look at your legacy as the L-G?

I have left Puducherry with a strong office for the future lieutenant governors and an emboldened bureaucracy to take principled positions. Alongside, several documented good practices of co-option, volunteerism, connectivity, use of technology, and financial prudence. These are all published and available on the website and YouTube channels.

What is your next plan? Would you like to revert to politics?

The speed at which life unfolds, I am wondering who is the architect?