DELHI TOP COP SAYS AAP MLA JARNAIL SINGH ON THE RUN IN ASSAULT CASE

The Delhi government now wants to have a say in the appointment of police commissioner.

Throwing the rule book at the lieutenant governor, senior officials in the Delhi government quoted section 55 (2) (b) of transaction of business rules, 1993. They said as per these rules the appointment of chief secretary, secretary (home) and secretary (land) takes place after consulting the government and the same rule should apply to the appointment of commissioner of police.

Sources, however, ruled it out as another probable flashpoint between the government and the L-G, who represents the Centre. Off late, the AAP government and the Union government and the L-G have been at loggerheads over several administrative matters.

Government sources said they do not want confrontation with the L-G but want proper demarcation of jurisdiction. Lieutenant gover nor Najeeb Jung had instructed the chief minister to withdraw directions of not routing files to the L-G but till Tuesday late evening, Arvind Kejriwal had not issued any fresh direction.

“The order issued on April 29 of not bothering the L-G with all the files stays, till a fresh order is issued. It has been done to save time as officers used to send every file to L-G office,” said a government official. The lieutenant governor has also quoted transaction of business rules, 1993, to counter the CM’s directions and said that it is mandatory for the government to send each file to the L-G office.

“Section 23 of the rule says that the CM should be consulted in matters which affect peace in the capital, interest of any minority community, relation of government with any state government, supreme court and high court among others. Previous governments were not doing it and we just want proper rule to be followed,” the official said, defending the CM’s direction.

The tussle started soon after AAP came to power as Kejriwal directed the officers to route the files related to public order and land to Jung’s office through him. Last week, Kejriwal issued another order asking officers not to bother sending every file to the L-G’s office.

Jung then wrote to the chief minister, “Drawing his attention to the relevant provisions of the constitution, the GNCTD Act 1991 and the transaction of business rules 1993, which underscore the relationship between the lieutenant governor and the chief minister’s office, that the role of the chief minister and the council of ministers is to aid and advise the L-G where the latter is entitled to act solely on his own discretion and all files relating to matters for which the legislative assembly can make law should come to the lieutenant for final approval.”