Telangana, Centre spar on gov power
Home ministry’s directive to hand over the critical subject of law and order, among others, to the governor has caused friction
New Delhi: The Centre and the Telangana government are at loggerheads over the MHA decision to give special powers to the state’s governor on all matters relating to “law and order, internal security and security of vital installations” in Hyderabad.
The Centre and the Telangana government are at loggerheads over the Union home ministry’s directive to hand over the critical subject of law and order, among others, to the governor. The Centre has shot off a missive to the Telangana government vesting special powers with the governor to issue directions on all matters relating to “law and order, internal security and security of vital installations, and management and allocation of government buildings” in the common capital of Hyderabad. On all such matters the governor’s advice will be binding on the state, the home ministry has said.
The home ministry, in a detailed letter to chief secretary of Telangana Rajiv Sharma, a copy of which is with this newspaper, has said that on all matters falling under law and order, internal security and security of vital installations, as well as the two police commissionerates of Hyderabad and Cyberabad, and for the district of Ranga Reddy, the home secretary of Telangana shall brief the governor and “the governor’s advice shall prevail”. The governor, who will be assisted by two advisers appointed by the Central government, will also be the last word on handling threat perception. The governor has been given powers to ask the state government to requisition additional forces for deployment. In case the state government takes a divergent view, the governor’s decision will be final. The governor can also call for a report or assessment from the Telangana government “on any acts of omission and commission by any official and direct the government to conduct an enquiry and take appropriate action as per law”. The governor will also have powers to issue necessary directions to the officials of the Telangana government for the protection of the property rights of the peo- ple residing in the common capital of Hyderabad.
In its letter, the ministry has listed 11 critical powers vested in the governor which include power to call for any record or information or decision of the council of ministers or any authority relating to law and order, internal security and security of vital installations, and management and allocation of government buildings in the common capital of Hyderabad.
“Entrusting the Governor with special powers is against the spirit of the Constitution of India. The Telangana government is functioning in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Governor too should act as per the decisions of the state Council of Ministers,” the Telangana chief secretary Rajeev Sharma said in his reply to the MHA letter on Saturday.
“Our government shall not honour or implement the Centre’s directives under any circumstances,” the chief secretary asserted and cautioned the Centre against infringing on the rights of the state government, official sources said.