The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government slammed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for declaring its Inquiry Commission on the CNG kit scam as 'null and void', saying that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Government was not a subordinate department of MHA.
In a strongly worded letter to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia stated that MHA was attempting to encroach upon the domain of judiciary.
"I understand that Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the setting up of Commission of Inquiry on CNG kit scam as legally invalid and void ab-initio...In this regard, I wish to state that Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) is not a subordinate department of MHA. Government of Delhi is a constitutionally elected Government which is accountable to people of Delhi and the Delhi Legislative Assembly," the letter said.
"Under the Constitution, MHA does not have any powers to declare any order of GNCTD void. It is only the judiciary which has the power to declare any order of GNCTD null and void. MHA seems to be attempting to encroach upon the domain of judiciary, which is dangerous," it added.
The letter further stated that if the MHA was aggrieved then it should approach the judiciary, adding that Inquiry Commission would continue to do its work.
According to sources, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has reopened the 2002 scam which took place under the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress Government in which three top officials are under the scanner.
In 2012, the ACB had launched a probe after it found that the then Delhi Government had incurred a loss of Rs. 100 crore in awarding the contract of operation and maintenance of inspection and certification of CNG vehicles.