Lt Governor Najeeb Jung to review all major decisions taken by AAP government

Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday has scrutinised all major decisions taken by the AAP government in last one year.
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung at a press conference after the Delhi High Court's verdict that upheld Lieutenant Governor's administrative powers in governing in New Delhi on Thursday. | PTI
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung at a press conference after the Delhi High Court's verdict that upheld Lieutenant Governor's administrative powers in governing in New Delhi on Thursday. | PTI

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Monday has scrutinized all major decisions taken by the AAP government in last one year.

Lieutenant Governor’s Secretary Vijay Kumar  issued an order to all Principal Secretaries, Secretaries, Heads of Departments (HoDs), all Heads of Autonomous Bodies, Corporations, Boards and Institutions under Delhi government to review all orders where prior approval of Lieutenant Governor though required was not taken.

The Lieutenant Governor has also directed that no order in future be issued without approval of the competent authority as per the prevailing constitutional scheme.

In other words, all cabinet decisions and appointments made by AAP government where consent of Lieutenant Governor required, was not taken, would be reviewed by Lieutenant Governor.

Jung has made it clear that he will hold a review meeting on August 17 over the issue. Jung’s move may further strain ties between the two sides. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is on a vipassana or meditation course in the hill station near Dharamsala.

The Lieutenant Governor’s letter comes just a few days after the Delhi High Court declared that Delhi continues to be a Union Territory under the Constitution with the Lieutenant Governor as its administrative head.

The decision had come after months-long turf war between the Leutenant Governor and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for the reins of Delhi. Not happy with the judgement, AAP government has moved the Supreme Court.

"The secretaries, principal secretaries and heads of all the departments, autonomous bodies, boards, corporations and institutions concerned should immediately review all such orders and identify by August 17 those cases where prior approval of the Lieutenant Governor was required but not taken," the order said.

The copy of the order has been sent to Union Home Secretary, Secretary to Chief Minister, Secretary to Deputy Chief Minister and Chief Secretary of Delhi and all HoDs and Principal Secretaries and Secretaries.

“Whereas, over the last one and half year, orders relating to issue of statutory notifications, conferment, of statutory powers, amendments to Acts/Rules/Statutes, constitutions/re-constitution of various Boards/ Commissions/Corporations/Committees, including appointment of Chairman/members thereof etc have been issued which required prior approval of the competent authority –Lieutenant Governor of Delhi under extant Acts/Rules/Guidelines as per prevailing constitutional scheme. Where in some of the said orders prior approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi though required was not obtained,” the order said.

"All such cases may immediately be placed with appropriate proposal before the Lieutenant Governor through proper channel and with the opinion of the Law department, wherever required," the order said. "It is also directed that no order in the future be issued without approval of the competent authority," it said.

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