New Delhi: Raising the stakes in its fight with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on Saturday decided to call a two-day 'emergency' session of Delhi Assembly on May 26 and 27 to deliberate on Centre's notification giving absolute powers to him in the appointment of bureaucrats and curb Anti-Corruption Bureau's powers.
The decision to hold the special session was taken at a Cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. As per the original schedule the Assembly was due to meet in June for the passage of Budget.
Officials said the session will deliberate on the gazette notification issued by the Centre as well as issues relating to sharing of power between the elected government and the Lieutenant Governor.
Legal opinions from noted constitutional expert KK Venugopal and former Solicitor General of India Gopal Subramanium were placed before Delhi Cabinet and discussed in the meeting. The Cabinet also decided that depending on the requirement, the session can be extended further.
In the notification issued on Friday, the Centre gave absolute powers to the L-G in appointment of bureaucrats while also clarifying that he need not "consult" the chief minister on subjects like police and public order.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau of the Delhi government has also been barred from registering any case against officers and political functionaries of the central government.
After the notification was issued, Kejriwal had reacted strongly to the notification, saying that the NDA Government at the Centre was trying to run the national capital through the 'backdoor'.
On the other hand, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had also criticised the notification, terming it as an attempt to "save the transfer-posting industry being run in Delhi".
The appointment of senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary by LG last week had triggered a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and LG Najeeb Jung, with Kejriwal questioning the LG's authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.
(With inputs from PTI)
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