A reality check for Arvind Kejriwal after SC judgement

On Wednesday, 4th July 2018, right after the Aam Aadmi Party government’s huge victory in the Supreme Court, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia got down to business. The very first thing Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia did was signed solicit to restore the powers of the ministers to transfer officials which is arduous to happen.

His order cannot be implemented is the message given to Mr Sisodia by the services department, which decides on posting of officials.

There was nothing in the Supreme Court verdict that cancelled the August 2016 order issued on the Lieutenant Governor’s instructions said the services department to Manish Sisodia.

Lt Governor and top bureaucrats would continue to decide on transfer and posting of officials till the 2016 directive is either cancelled by the court or replaced with a new order pre-approved by Lt Governor Anil Baijal is clearly indicated by the department.

AAP government has spent a greater part of the day celebrating the Supreme Court as a victory for democracy and the city’s elected government but the rejoinder is a huge setback for them.

Lt Governor had no independent decision-making powers beyond land, police and public order is the ruled verdict from the top court. The court did underline the primacy of the elected government over the Lt Governor.

Also Read: Know what politicians said on Supreme Court verdict on AAP vs LG

It is informed by the source that Mr Sisodia had interpreted the verdict to imply that the elected government was quite literally which is considered as the city’s administrative boss.

Mr Sisodia as the minister in-charge of the services department said, he had taken the decision that IAS officers would be transferred only on the chief minister’s orders, not the Lt Governor.

Ever since his AAP swept to power in Delhi in 2015 and accuses the centre of chipping away at its powers, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been in tug of war with the center.

Recently, AAP has also blamed the BJP-led coalition at the center after a top official Anshu Prakash accused Mr Kejriwal of assault at a midnight meeting in February this year. AAP blamed them of provoking the bureaucracy to revolt against the elected government.

Also Read: LG cannot be an obstructionist, observes Supreme Court