New Delhi: The Supreme Court will re-hear on Friday the Central government’s plea challenging Delhi High Court order which held that Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has no power in the posting and transfer of bureaucrats.
The Apex Court’s Vacation Bench of Justices SK Sikri and UU Lalit on Thursday said they will hear the matter on Friday as Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh urged the Court to hold an urgent hearing of the matter.
The Delhi High Court by its verdict had held erroneous the Central government notification putting all the services under Lieutenant Governor. Earlier on May 26, the Delhi HC noted that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is bound to act upon the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers who are directly elected by the citizens of Delhi and the Centre’s ‘executive fiat’ siding with him is ‘suspect’.
The AAP government in Delhi and the LG have been involved in a public spat over his powers vis a vis an elected government.
The Centre had on May 21 issued a notification siding with the Lt Governor. The notification said that the ACB Police Station shall not take cognisance of offences against officials, employees and functionaries of these Central government services.
A tussle had erupted earlier this month between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Jung over the appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary.
