Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
New Delhi:
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung were seen exchanging pleasantries at a function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday. Hours later, they were at war again, with Mr Jung appointing a Joint Commissioner in the Delhi Police, MK Meena, to the capital's Anti-Corruption Branch or ACB.
By the dint of seniority, Mr Meena will head the ACB instead of Additional Commissioner SS Yadav, who was handpicked for the job by Mr Kejriwal. He has already held a meeting of ACB officers on Monday night.
The Aam Aadmi Party or AAP government is furious. Sources said it will "not take this lying down," and is contemplating moving court against the appointment.
"This is an illegal appointment. There is no post of joint commissioner in the ACB, posts can't be created like this," said Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia to NDTV. He said no one in the government was consulted on the posting. "Neither the Delhi Chief Minister, me or director vigilance," Mr Sisodia said, alleging that it was a move designed to control investigation into corruption cases.
The Delhi Police announced on Monday, "A Joint Commissioner and seven inspectors of Delhi Police have been posted to the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch to augment its resources and fight corruption," and promised, "if the need arises more staff will be posted very soon."
The latest turf battle began last week when the L-G objected to Mr Kejriwal getting four police officers from Bihar on deputation to Delhi's ACB citing an acute staff shortage.
Mr Jung's office said no appointment to the ACB could be made without his consent.
The Centre has backed Mr Jung on this saying that the ACB comes under his jurisdiction since the L-G controls the police in the capital and the ACB is deemed a police station. Delhi does not have full statehood and the Centre, through the L-G, controls several key functions.
For several weeks now Mr Kejriwal has clashed with Mr Jung over key appointments in the capital. Mr Jung insists the final say on appointments is vested in him; Mr Kejriwal says an elected head of government is entitled to choose members of his team.
By the dint of seniority, Mr Meena will head the ACB instead of Additional Commissioner SS Yadav, who was handpicked for the job by Mr Kejriwal. He has already held a meeting of ACB officers on Monday night.
The Aam Aadmi Party or AAP government is furious. Sources said it will "not take this lying down," and is contemplating moving court against the appointment.
"This is an illegal appointment. There is no post of joint commissioner in the ACB, posts can't be created like this," said Delhi's deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia to NDTV. He said no one in the government was consulted on the posting. "Neither the Delhi Chief Minister, me or director vigilance," Mr Sisodia said, alleging that it was a move designed to control investigation into corruption cases.
The Delhi Police announced on Monday, "A Joint Commissioner and seven inspectors of Delhi Police have been posted to the Delhi government's Anti-Corruption Branch to augment its resources and fight corruption," and promised, "if the need arises more staff will be posted very soon."
The latest turf battle began last week when the L-G objected to Mr Kejriwal getting four police officers from Bihar on deputation to Delhi's ACB citing an acute staff shortage.
Mr Jung's office said no appointment to the ACB could be made without his consent.
The Centre has backed Mr Jung on this saying that the ACB comes under his jurisdiction since the L-G controls the police in the capital and the ACB is deemed a police station. Delhi does not have full statehood and the Centre, through the L-G, controls several key functions.
For several weeks now Mr Kejriwal has clashed with Mr Jung over key appointments in the capital. Mr Jung insists the final say on appointments is vested in him; Mr Kejriwal says an elected head of government is entitled to choose members of his team.
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