New Delhi: The Delhi assembly today adopted a resolution seeking restoration of powers of the state's Anti Corruption Branch or ACB. In July last year, the Union Home Ministry had issued a notification restricting the scope of investigation by the ACB.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who moved the resolution in the assembly, said "The central government's move to curtail powers of Delhi's anti-corruption body is interference in the Delhi government's work. It is against the constitution."
He said that the notification has limited the scope of the agency only to the officers and employees of the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
The previous Aam Aadmi Party government in 2014 had asked its anti-corruption branch to probe the alleged role of ministers in the then UPA government in a case relating to gas pricing.
Mr Sisodia, 43, said that the state government will take up with the Centre the issue of curtailment of powers of the ACB. He added, "This house further resolves that the government will function as per its original mandate against corruption as it existed prior to the notification."
Last year in July, the Narendra Modi government had issued a notification stating that the Anti-Corruption Branch could only probe officials working in the Delhi government.
Making a case for the resolution, Mr Sisodia further said that the union home ministry had no reason to tamper with the 21 year-old notification under which the ACB was set-up to check corruption in various departments concerning the people of Delhi.