PC continues tirade against L-G in top court

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former home minister P. Chidambaram asserted in the Supreme Court, on Thursday, that the lieutenant-governor (L-G) of Delhi has arrogated to himself all the powers on all matters, thus mocking the democratic form of government.

Appearing for the Kejriwal government, Mr Chidambaram submitted before a five judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.K. Sikri, A.M. Kanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud, and Ashok Bhushan that it is the duty of the L-G to act under the aid and advice of the council of ministers of Delhi, but that the L-G was behaving exactly opposite to this.

Continuing his tirade against the L-G, the senior counsel said that by his actions the latter had virtually denuded the powers of the elected government, the chief minister, and other ministers. The L-G has arrogated to himself all the powers of appointments, postings and transfers and officers are taking instructions only from him.

Mr Chidambaram brought to the notice of the court the standing order issued by the L-G to by-pass the CM and other ministers in all decisions. Even the information as to how the vacant posts in various departments of the Delhi government are to be filled, is kept away.

He said the Union Territory of Delhi has a separate entity and “it does not merge with the Central government. The L-G is making a mockery of the Constitution and the Parliament which had passed a law for creation of a legislature for Delhi.”

Mr Chidambaram said that the L-G has virtually assumed all the powers on all matters and what he has done is to make the council of ministers a non-entity, thereby demolishing the democratic form of governance.