New Delhi: The Delhi government is likely to appeal to the Supreme Court tomorrow to dispose of its appeals, including the one on the matter of services, which is a bone of contention between the AAP dispensation and lieutenant-governor (L-G) Anil Baijal, at the earliest.
“Will be mentioning the matter first thing tomorrow morning before the Supreme Court with a request to dispose of all our appeals, including the one on “services” at the earliest possible (sic),” the Delhi’s Standing Counsel (criminal) Rahul Mehra tweeted.
Even after the SC order that clipped the power of the L-G, the services matter has become a bone of contention between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensation and Mr Baijal.
Earlier in the day, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to L-G Anil Baijal wondering how he can be “selective” in accepting the Supreme Court judgement on power tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre.
In his letter to Mr Baijal on Monday, Mr Kejriwal urged him to implement the judgment in letter and spirit and asserted that the Union home ministry does not have the powers to interpret the order.
The L-G wrote back to Mr Kejriwal, saying that he was quoted “selectively” and charged “erroneously” by the chief minister.
Hours after the July 4 judgment, the government introduced a new system for transfer and postings of bureaucrats, making the chief minister the approving authority.
However, the services department refused to comply, saying the Supreme Court did not abolish a notification issued in 2016, which made the Union home ministry the authority for transfers and postings through the L-G.
Mr Baijal reiterated that it would be “premature” to draw conclusions at this stage as appeals are pending before the regular bench of the Supreme Court.
