AAP government seeks five powers enjoyed by Sheila Dikshit regime

New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (A’AP), on Saturday, said that the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in the national capital does not enjoy five major powers, including the power to transfer officers to other departments, which were available to the Sheila Dikshit government. 

The party’s chief spokesperson, Saurabh Bharadwaj, said: “Though Ms Dikshit has said that the present dispensation should work in coordination with the lieutenant-governor (L-G), we want to ask her whether she enjoyed the power to transfer officers to the departments where their calibre could be utilised efficiently. 

He further asked whether Ms Dikshit’s government had the power to take disciplinary action against the officers who did not listen to the government; the power of the anti-corruption branch; and the power to recruit new officers in times of need. He also asked whether Ms Dikshit used to send every file to the L-G for approval. He pointed out that the AAP government has to seek the L-G’s nod on every proposal. 

He added that the non-BJP states across the country are facing difficult relation with the NDA government at the Centre.

“Which officer has to be recruited, or which department they have to be posted at, is decided by the L-G, who is a representative of the Centre. Departments such as police and DDA work directly under the Central government and the salaries are also released by the Centre. So why shouldn’t the Union government pay the salaries for other departments as well? Since all the officers working in the government take command from the L-G, why should the Delhi government give their salaries?” he asked, adding whether such an arrangement was possible.