New Delhi: The Centre has filed a review petition before the Supreme Court seeking review of its earlier order on giving control over right to services to the AAP-led Delhi government. The move comes soon after the Centre promulgated an ordinance to set up a National Capital Service Authority (NCSA) to recommend transfers and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A from the DANICS cadre.
According to the Ordinance, the NCSA will include the chief minister as its chairman, the chief secretary and the principal secretary of the home department. It will meet as and when the members decide with the chairman's approval. Through the ordinance the Centre has granted authority over services rights to the Lieutenant Governor (LG).
The ordinance has further stated that since national capital Delhi falls under the President's jurisdiction so he would possess the power to reshuffle officers. In contrast, the apex court had mentioned that the elected government of Delhi is accountable to the people and also that the state has been granted a federal model by the Constitution. The court had thus stated that the LG should abide by the government's advice.
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The ordinance drew strong opposition from the AAP, which termed it as an "act of dishonesty and treachery". The party alleged that the ordinance issued by the Centre disrespected the order of the apex court that had given complete authority to the Delhi government. It was introduced by the Centre out of fear, AAP leaders said.
Responding to this, Delhi education minister Atishi said that the ordinance was aimed at reducing the Delhi government's power while services minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the Centre's move is a disrespect towards the people's mandate for Delhi.
