ADVANTAGE AAP

The SC verdict backed the AAP govt against the L-G on control of services, but the BJP-led Centre is unlikely to give up

- Kaushik Deka

Who should control the transfer and postings of bureaucrats in the national capital territory (NCT)? Here was a verdict that said Arvind Kejriwal’s government, and not the Centre’s representative, the lieutenant-governor (L-G), would have the final say over ‘services’ in Delhi. On May 11, what the five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud delivered was a unanimous verdict in favour of the Delhi regime. By all logic, that should have brought closure to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) regime’s eight-year-old dispute with the BJPled Union government.

However, less than 24 hours after the ruling, the battle saw another chapter opening. The AAP regime issued an order transferring services secretary Ashish More. But not only did More’s department not act on the order, it also called the move “illegal”, saying the court had earlier directed the central/ state governments to establish a Civil Services Board to examine transfers before an officer’s term was completed. AAP leaders, including services minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, allege More then went incommunicado, switching off his mobile phone. The Delhi government knocked on the doors of the apex court again, claiming interference and possible contempt of court by the Centre as More’s actions allegedly violate the May 11 ruling. Justice Chandrachud has said he would constitute a bench to hear the matter.