Arvind Kejriwal, Najeeb Jung rift deepens as new CS takes charge

 

Hours after senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin took charge as acting chief secretary despite being asked not to do so by Mr Kejriwal, the fight flared up as he shot off a strongly-worded letter to Mr Jung, asking him to work “within the confines” of Constitution and alleging that he was trying to take over the administration. 

Mr Jung responded by reiterating that no action taken was in “non-conformity” with the provisions of established precedents.

 

“I am simply aghast by your questionable instructions issued directly to the pr. secretary (services) to post an officer of your choice as the acting chief secretary of Delhi. In doing so, you have bypassed the  democratically elected government,” the communiqué read. 

Citing several rules of the Transaction of Business Rules, the CM also drew Mr Jung’s attention to Article 293AA (4) of the Constitution and noted: “You are holding a constitutional post. Whatever be the political pressures, you have a duty to uphold the Constitution.”

 

Mr Jung’s secretariat issued a statement, asserting that the L-G had acted “fully conscious” of his duties and the CM had been duly consulted on the file. It was the CMO’s  40 hours delay that “necessitated” the direction. A Raj Nivas official said that Mr Jung would consult with the MHA since the AAP government is set to approach the President in the row.

 

The MHA has so far steered clear of the controversy. “The Lieutenant-Governor and the Chief Minister are competent enough to handle the situation,” Union home secretary L.C. Goyal noted.