On May 11, the Supreme Court announced its verdict that the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi has legislative power over bureaucrats, excluding the departments of public order, police and land.
Eight days later, the Centre introduced an ordinance to create the National Capital Civil Service Authority to administer the transfer and posting of bureaucrats serving the Delhi government, effectively negating the SC decision regarding the issue.
This is another development part of an ongoing tussle between the AAP government in power in Delhi and the Union government, particularly with the Lieutenant Governor with respect to administration duties.
Ordinances need to be approved by Parliament, so the Centre will need to introduce a bill in the upcoming Monsoon Session, for it to be passed.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party have urged the Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha, to vote against the bill.
CM Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann met with Mr Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) along with other party leaders in Mumbai seeking their support
‘We all have come together to save the country and democracy,’ Mr Thackeray said in a joint press conference.
‘I think we should not be called opposition parties in fact they [BJP] should be called opposition since they are against democracy and Constitution,’ he added.
CM Kejriwal had earlier met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata, who assured them that the Trinamool Congress will oppose the bill.
The Aam Aadmi Party leaders also met with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, who have expressed support as well.
After the Centre brought in the ordinance, some decisions have already been taken in accordance.
On May 13, the Services and Vigilance Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj had removed YVVJ Rajasekhar Rajasekhar from the post following the Supreme Court order.
However, on May 22, Rajasekhar was reinstated on all assignments he was handling in the Vigilance department through an order from the Office of Secretary (Vigilance).
Mr Bharadwaj rejected the order, according to a PTI report.
In an office memorandum, Mr. Bharadwaj said that he was ‘the competent authority in the matter ‘ and Mr. Rajasekhar remains divested of all his duties, adding that the ordinance ‘does not talk about the allocation of work within the department.’