Issuing a notification to clarify distribution of powers between the Lieutenant Governor's office and the Delhi Chief Minister, the Ministry of Home Ministry (MHA) on Friday said the former has primacy in postings and transfers of officers belonging to Central services.
"Subject to his control and further orders, LG of the National capital of Delhi, shall in respect of matters connected with 'Public Order', 'Police', 'Land' and 'Services' exercise the powers and discharge functions of the Central Govt to the extent delegated to him from time to time by the President," said the MHA notification.
"Provided that LG may, in his discretion, obtain views of CM of Delhi in regards matter of 'Services', wherever he deems it appropriate," it added.
Meanwhile, Delhi deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia termed the notification as an attempt to "save the transfer-posting industry being run in Delhi".
"The notification makes it clear how afraid the transfer-posting industry in Delhi is of our government," Sisodia said on twitter.
The MHA notification comes after Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Wednesday declared invalid all bureaucratic appointments made by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government without consulting him in the last four days.
Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's government are at loggerheads over the appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as the acting Chief Secretary despite the Delhi government's opposition.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kejriwal had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to allow the AAP government to function independently and had accused the central government of trying to run Delhi through Jung.
Kejriwal's letter came a day after both he and Jung took their bitter tussle to President Pranab Mukherjee, accusing each other of violating the constitution and overstepping their respective jurisdictions.
Jung also cancelled the appointments of Rajendra Kumar as Principal Secretary (services) and Arvind Ray as Principal Secretary (general administration department).
Both had replaced Anindo Majumdar, who was removed by Kejriwal.
Jung's office had yesterday also issued a statement saying the Delhi Lieutenant Governor alone was competent to approve transfer and posting of principal secretary or secretary-level officers.
