Lieutenant-Governor pushing Delhi back by two years, charges Arvind Kejriwal

The decisions taken by the Delhi government are being rendered “null and void” by lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said.

“This will have serious ramifications for the city and it will send Delhi back by almost two years,” he said addressing a press conference at his residence on Saturday. Mr Kejriwal’s remarks come a day after the L-G dissolved the Delhi Wakf Board and declared reconstitution of board and appointment of its CEO as illegal.

Mr Jung has also asked the government to withdraw its last year’s notification of increasing circle rates of agricultural land in the capital, according to the Delhi CM. He said if there is corruption involved in such decision-making, then the L-G can get them investigated, but they should not be made null and void just because his consent was not taken.

“We have made many flyovers, now will they be demolished We constructed 8,000 classrooms. Will they have to be demolished as well ” Mr Kejriwal said.

The Delhi CM said before the August 4 high court order, the Aam Aadmi Party government took various decisions “legitimately” believing that the L-G’s consent was not needed for some issues. The August 4 order of the HC gives the L-G primacy over the Delhi administration.

“However, the L-G believed that his consent was needed. Our intention was not wrong while making those decisions. The court case was going on and now there’s this interpretation that his approval is needed. Process is going on to declare null and void all our decisions taken in the last one-and-a-half year which is very unfortunate. I request the Centre not to make governance in Delhi a mockery as it is a serious business,” Mr Kejriwal said.

He claimed that in the past, ex-post facto approval of the L-G has been given to the government’s various decisions. “The high court order cannot have retrospective effect, instead it can only have prospective effect,” the Delhi CM said.

Questioning the transfer and posting of civil servants made by the L-G, he said: “The Delhi government has no say in any of the transfers or postings that are happening now. This is taking the situation bit too far. I had asked the food commissioner to inst-all point of sale devices by March 31. He has been transferred and new one doesn’t know of orders.”

On scrapping of the appointment of Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) chairman, he said: “The L-G has scrapped the appointment of DERC chairman saying his prior approval was not sought. Will all the DERC’s decisions taken in the last one-and-a-half-year be declared null and void ”