The Home Ministry's 2015 notification that 'services' falls outside the purview of the Delhi Legislative Assembly continues to be valid, Lt Governor Anil Baijal said today.
His statement came after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed earlier in the day that the LG had refused to give control of the services department to the city government.
In a letter to Kejriwal, Baijal pointed to a 2015 Ministry of Home Affairs notification issuing "Presidential directions" under Article 239 and 239AA of the Constitution.
It said services' falls outside the purview of the Legislative Assembly of the NCT of Delhi and consequently the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi will have no executive powers in relation to services'.
"The said notification was also upheld by the High Court of Delhi in its judgement on August 4, 2016.
Also Read
"In the wake of the judgement of the learned Constitutional Bench of Supreme Court, the MHA has advised that as per concluding paras of judgement, the nine appeals including the one relating to Services' shall be taken up by the learned regular Bench and the MHA notification dated 21.05.2015 continue to be valid," the letter said.
Kejriwal claimed it was the first time in the country's history that the Central government had openly refused to obey the apex court's order.
Addressing the media after a 25-minute meeting with Baijal, the first after his nine-day sit-in, Kejriwal said his refusal will lead to "anarchy" in the country.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
