Gamlin’s appointment: AAP govt charges BJP with coup attempt

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, May 16, 2015: The turf-war between AAP and Lt Governor on the appointment of Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary on Saturday escalated with the Delhi government charging that the BJP was attempting to carry out a "coup" against it through Najeeb Jung.

"The BJP through LG of Delhi has attempted a coup against the democratically elected government of Delhi with highest ever mandate in the history of the state.

"This is for the first that LG is issuing direct instruction to officers, bypassing the chief ministers and council of ministers," Manish Sisodia, who also holds charge of Services department, told PTI.

Yesterday, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung gave the additional charge of Chief Secretary to Gamlin, a 1984-batch IAS officer, hours after she wrote a scathing letter to Jung claiming that she was pressurised by a senior bureaucrat in CM’s office not to be in race for the post due to her alleged proximity to BSES discoms.

"The constitution, GNCT act of Delhi and Transaction of Business Rules clearly define what LG can do. In case of a dispute or difference of opinion between LG and council of ministers, LG could have called the minister concerned to discuss the matter.

"Even after that if council of ministers disagreed he could have referred the matter to the President and his advice could have been conveyed to council of ministers," Sisodia said.

Calling LG’s move an act "against the constitution", Sisodia said, "I was not informed by LG and he does not have power to issue direct instructions to officers. He has clearly acted against constitution and laws relevant to Delhi."

Slamming the LG’s move, AAP government had yesterday said he cannot bypass the elected government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and that he acted against "the Constitution, GNCT of Delhi Act, and the Transaction of Business Rules."

Chief Secretary KK Sharma has left for the US on a personal visit due to which the government had to appoint an acting Chief Secretary. Gamlin is currently serving as Power Secretary.

PTI