Office being maligned in court, claims L-G; Delhi govt hits back

Hitting back, in a press release, the Delhi government said that the judiciary is its last resort since the L-G does not take action against officers.

“The government of Delhi contends that the courts of the country are the last resorts, given, officers don’t follow ministers’ directives, and even the Lieutenant Governor doesn’t take requisite action against such officers… despite the Supreme Court’s allocation of ‘services’ to the elected Delhi government, the Centre’s GNCTD (Amendment) Act has eroded these powers… Furthermore, the government affirmed that Centre-appointed officers are ignoring ministerial directives and the L-G is neglecting ministerial appeals,” it said.

The letter from L-G V K Saxena’s principal secretary cited different cases in the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, including matters related to infrastructure in the HC and subordinate courts, release of funds for the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and ‘Farishtey’ scheme, DCPCR, classification of conforming and non-conforming wards related to the 2021-22 excise policy. The letter is intended to apprise the Union Home Ministry of the developments in the national capital with regard to “avoidable litigation”, it added.

In response, the Delhi government said that “bureaucratic impasses” had halted initiatives including DJB funds, ‘Farishtey’ scheme, bus marshals, and smog towers. “The government bemoans bureaucratic delays as files languish without response, exacerbating an already tumultuous administrative landscape,” it said, adding that no action was being taken by Centre-appointed bureaucrats and files of public interest of 2 crore Delhiites are at their mercy for “indefinite times”. “It is our moral obligation, being elected representatives, to ensure no shortcomings and inefficacy for the citizens of Delhi. We have been knocking on the Supreme Court’s doors in this pursuit,” it said.