Power tussle between L-G and Delhi Assembly rocks House

The power tussle between the Lt Governor and the Delhi Assembly today rocked the House, with the Centre asking Speaker Ram Niwas Goel not to accept any question on "reserved subject", prompting Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to assert that the Assembly should not be treated as the "subordinate" of the Home Ministry.

The issue came to the fore in the House when Goel read out a written communication from the Lt Governor's office through services following the vigilance and services departments declining answers to questions raised by MLAs pertaining to vigilance cases and details of foreign trips undertaken by officers and ministers in past 15 years.

 

However, the Speaker in his ruling said that all the questions, replies to which have not received from the departments concerned, stand referred to the Privileges Committee for the contempt of the House.

The Union Law Ministry, in its advice to the L-G's office through the Home Ministry, stated, "Rule 29 of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Legislative Assembly of National Capital Territory of Delhi states that the subject matter of Questions must relate to a matter of administration for which the government is responsible.

"Its purpose shall be to elicit information or to give suggestion of action on a matter of public importance."

Citing rules, the Ministry stated, "Legally the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly cannot admit any Question on any reserved subject."

In his ruling, the Speaker said, "The officers should realise that legislation on reserved subjects and seeking replies on matters of public interest which directly affect the people of Delhi are two different issues.

"Hence, I direct that the officers are duty bound to provide replies to all questions which are admitted.

Sisodia also raised the issue, saying that the Delhi Assembly should not be treated as "subordinate" of the Home Ministry, alleging that officers are not giving replying as it would "expose" them.

The Leader of Opposition said the matter of foreign trips did not fall in the jurisdiction of services and the assembly had every right to seek details on the issue.