AAP challenges Centre's notification on LG's powers in Delhi High Court

Intensifying its war of words with the Centre on the issue of devolution of powers of the Delhi's Lt Dovernor and the chief Minister, the Aam Admi party (AAP) government led by Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday challenged a recent central government notification giving Lt. Governor absolute powers in appointing bureaucrats.

New Delhi: Intensifying its war of words with the Centre on the issue of devolution of powers of Delhi's Lt Governor and the chief minister, the Aam Admi Party (AAP) government led by Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday challenged a recent central government notification giving the Lt. Governor absolute powers in appointing bureaucrats.

According to reports, the AAP government also challenged in the high court the recent appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary by LG Najeeb Jung.

The high court has also agreed to hear AAP's plea against the notification tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court will also re-hear on Friday the central government's plea challenging Delhi High Court holding that Lieutenant Governor has no power in the posting and transfer of bureaucrats in the Delhi government.

The apex court vacation bench of Justices SK Sikri and UU Lalit today 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.

Delhi Assembly had on Wednesday passed a resolution holding as "illegal" Centre's notification giving more powers to the Lt Governor with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blasting the Modi government, terming its move as a prelude to pushing the country towards "dictatorship".

In the resolution, the Assembly called the Home Ministry's notification an attempt to "encroach upon" the legislative powers of the House conferred by the Constitution and said it was "completely unconstitutional, illegal and invalid".

Just before the House adopted the resolution, Kejriwal in his fiery address lambasted Lt Governor Najeeb Jung who he said was "dancing to the tune" of the Centre and "deliberately" trying to create obstacles for the AAP government.

"Whatever is happening in Delhi is dangerous. This is the Delhi experiment of the BJP-led Centre. One by one, this experiment would be implemented in every non-BJP state. They want to take the country towards dictatorship. I appeal to all non-BJP chief ministers to come together and unite on this issue," he said.

Kejriwal also alleged that slums across Delhi are being demolished at the instructions of Jung so that people get agitated against the AAP government.

The resolution said the Ministry of Home Affairs issued the notification without having any jurisdiction to do so. The special two-day session which concluded was called to discuss the notification. The three BJP MLAs staged a walkout just before the resolution was adopted.

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