MHA seeks legal advice on Delhi

The Union home ministry has decided to back its notification against the Delhi high court order which had termed as “suspect’’ the Centre’s recent notification barring Delhi government’s anti- corruption branch ( ACB) from acting against its officers in criminal offences and held that the L- G cannot act in his discretion. The MHA, which had re- inforced its notification based on sound legal advice, is once again seeking legal advice before defending itself in a court of law.

Ministry officials said the AAP government is escalating the fight and not the Centre and cited multiple occasions when the MHA could have thrown the rulebook at the Kejriwal government but acceeded to the chief minister’s demand. A case in point is the appointment of the chief secretary of Delhi. Sources said even though it is one of the four posts in Delhi where appointment is made by the L- G in consultation with the home ministry, the chief minister had bypassed the L- G and approached the MHA.

Officials even pointed out that cooperation on all matters has been extended to Mr Kejriwal.