In Arvind Kejriwal vs centre, High Court had ruled that Delhi is in the charge of Lt Governor
The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the high court verdict holding that Delhi, as a union territory, is mainly in the charge of Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, who functions as the centre's representative in the capital. The AAP government's appeal is likely to be heard on Friday.
This comes a day after Mr Kejriwal alleged "witch-hunting" as Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung ordered a review of 400 files of decisions by his government, saying they contain "infirmities and irregularities".
"The committee will look into omissions or commissions, as also fix responsibility of individuals, including civil and criminal liability, if any," said a statement from Mr Jung's office.
"This is witch hunting. Like they arrested (AAP) MLAs on false cases, they will victimize officers now," tweeted Mr Kejriwal.
The Delhi High Court had ruled on August 4 that the Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head of Delhi and the state government needs to consult him for its decisions.
After the ruling, Mr Jung asked officers to submit examples of the Kejriwal government failing to request his sign off on decisions even though it was required to.
"On preliminary scrutiny of these files, it is found that over the last one and half years several decisions taken are in violation of Acts/Rules with attendant legal and financial implications," Mr Jung's office said.
Mr Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party allege that the ruling BJP, which lost the Delhi election, has repeatedly overruled and harassed an elected government.
Mr Kejriwal on Tuesday posted a series of tweets accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being "hell-bent on destroying Delhi". The Chief Minister is seething over the recent transfer of officers by the Lieutenant Governor.
Mr Kejriwal won Delhi with a stunning record in the last state election, but his government has functioned in a continuum of hostility with the centre, which is mandated to run large parts of Delhi including its police force.