File photo of Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal with Lieutenant Governor, Najeeb Jung
At a time when Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung, through the Centre, are locked in a bitter turf war over who runs the state administration, NDTV has accessed a letter by a former Home Minister that opines that "Government of Delhi" represents the elected government.
Earlier Mr Jung had issued a letter to the chief minister saying that "the LG is the government of Delhi."
On January 31, 2011, the then Home Minister P Chidambaram had written a letter to the Delhi chief minister Shiela Diskhit regarding revising circle rates in Delhi, which carried a legal opinion by the Attorney General GE Vahanvati.
While analyzing Article 239 of the Indian constitution, Mr Vahanvati says, "With reference to the Indian stamp act, 1899, and to the Government in Rule 4 of the Delhi stamp Rules, read with provisions of Entry 63 of List 2, indicate that the word "Government" in the Delhi Stamp rules 2007, refers to the Government of NCT of Delhi." He goes on to conclude that the Government of NCT of Delhi has the right to fix the minimum rates that the LG is compelled to act on the advice of the government.
In the same letter, Mr Chidambaram, while pointing out the Attorney General's opinion, adds that the LG is also being similarly advised on this matter.
The AAP has accused the Centre of "attempting to weaken" their government's fight against corruption. Currently, Delhi has two anti-graft unit chiefs and two home secretaries, one each appointed by the government and the LG due to differences. Just yesterday, the LG cancelled the appointment of AAP leader Swati Maliwal as the Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has likened Delhi to being a "Police state" after AAP volunteers were beaten up in West Delhi's Anand Parbat area on Tuesday.