More setbacks for AAP: LG orders review, civic body demands ‘respect’

There seems to be no respite for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi. Three days after the Delhi High Court said the lieutenant governor (LG) is the administrative head of the national capital territory, Najeeb Jung has asked the heads of Delhi government departments to review orders passed without his knowledge.

Vijay Kumar, secretary of the LG, has reportedly said in the order, “The secretaries, principal secretaries and heads of all the departments, autonomous bodies, boards, corporations and institutions concerned should immediately review all such orders and identify by August 17 those cases where prior approval of the LG was required but not taken.”

Officials have also been asked not to issue any order in the future without the approval of the competent authority, that is, LG. Earlier, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government had asked its officials not to send files to Raj Bhawan for Jung’s approval.

Meanwhile, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North MCD) has asked its officials not to accompany Delhi MLAs and Delhi government officials during their visits. North MCD has reportedly barred its officials from attending meetings or inspections by the government officials without its permission.

“If they (Delhi government) do not respect us (the corporations), we will not show respect either,” Sanjeev Nayyar, North MCD Mayor, was quoted as saying. If other civic bodies follow suit, it might lead to more embarrassment for AAP MLAs as they might not be able to get even the simplest of tasks done in their constituencies.