Kejriwal, Baijal in fresh spat

Baijal’s letter set the stage for a stormy assembly session that will meet for a day to pass the bill for guest teachers and discuss issues such as the intended hike in Delhi Metro rail fares.

Baijal reasoned that teacher recruitment is under the services department, which reports directly to the lieutenant governor.

Citing the Delhi government’s transaction of business rules, he indicated that the government might not have consulted the law department, a mandatory procedure.

Baijal referred to a Delhi high court order, which ruled last year that the government “cannot claim any executive power in relation to matters with respect to services”.

The Delhi government insisted that the hiring is within the education department’s jurisdiction.

“It comes under education. Whether the bill will be introduced tomorrow or not is to be decided by the legislators,” said Nagender Sharma, the chief minister’s media adviser.

According to the AAP government, a fresh recruitment drive is not required as these guest teachers are trained and experienced.

Baijal and the AAP government had a major confrontation this September when he wrote to the Union home secretary for dissolving the privileges committees of the Delhi assembly.