Centre's Ordinance Will Not Stand In The Court For 5 Minutes, Says Kejriwal

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday addressed a press conference on the Centre's latest Ordinance over posting and transferring.

He charged that the Centre has entered into a direct confrontation with the Supreme Court over the issue of control over services matter as the ordinance "overturns" its verdict giving control to the elected government in Delhi over services matter.

Kejriwal expressed his view, saying, "They deliberately timed the introduction of this Ordinance when the Supreme Court is closed for summer vacations. It is evident that they are aware of its illegality and understand that it will not withstand judicial scrutiny for more than a few minutes. Once the Supreme Court resumes its proceedings on July 1, we will actively challenge this Ordinance."

The chief minister alleged that the BJP-led Centre wanted to obstruct his government's work. Calling the ordinance an attack on the federal structure, he said he will meet leaders of various parties to ensure the related bill is not passed by Rajya Sabha. "We will go to people to talk about this and also organise a maha rally against this," he said.

Earlier in the day, the Centre has moved the Supreme Court seeking review of its May 11 verdict which held that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over the administration of services except for public order, police and land.

The Centre had on Friday promulgated an ordinance to create an authority for transfer and posting of Group-A officers in Delhi, with the AAP government calling the move a deception with the Supreme Court verdict on control of services.

The ordinance, which came a week after the apex court handed over the control of services in Delhi excluding police, public order and land to the elected government, seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers from the DANICS cadre.