File photo of Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
On the sidelines of the dramatic arrest and resignation of Delhi Law Minister Jitender Singh Tomar on Tuesday, another fast-paced episode in the turf war between the Arvind Kejriwal government and Delhi's Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung played out.
Joint Commissioner of Police MK Meena dug in his heels on Tuesday evening saying he would continue as the chief of Delhi's Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), as he had been appointed by the "competent authority", a reference to the L-G. The police officer had been informed this morning by the Delhi government that he could not join the ACB as he could hold a "non-existent post" in the anti-corruption unit.
Mr Meena wrote back to say that he has already taken charge and now heads the ACB. He also has threatened legal action if there is "interference" in the working of the ACB.
The L-G has also rejected the AAP government's decision this morning to transfer Delhi's Home Secretary Dharam Pal, after he signed the notification on Mr Meena's appointment. The AAP government had duly sent the transfer order for Mr Jung's approval
By the dint of seniority, Mr Meena now heads the ACB instead of Additional Commissioner SS Yadav, who was handpicked for the job by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
A furious Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said this morning, "This is an illegal appointment. There is no post of joint commissioner in the ACB, Posts can't be created like this."
He said no one in the government was consulted on the posting. "Neither the Delhi CM, me or director vigilance," Mr Sisodia said, alleging that it was a move designed to control investigation into corruption cases.
Policing in Delhi is controlled by the Centre through the L-G and the Delhi Government is not authorized to send back officers to the Centre. The L-G can move around officers and for that he need not always consult the Delhi chief minister.
The decision to send back officers is taken through a Joint Cadre Authority comprising the Home Secretary of Delhi and the Chief Secretaries of Goa, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.