In a strongly worded letter to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia stated that MHA was attempting to encroach upon the domain of judiciary.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government slammed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for declaring its Inquiry Commission on the CNG kit scam as null and void, saying that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Government was not a subordinate department of MHA.
In a strongly worded letter to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia stated that MHA was attempting to encroach upon the domain of judiciary.
I understand that Ministry of Home Affairs has declared the setting up of Commission of Inquiry on CNG kit scam as legally invalid and void ab-initio...In this regard, I wish to state that Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) is not a subordinate department of MHA. Government of Delhi is a constitutionally elected Government which is accountable to people of Delhi and the Delhi Legislative Assembly, the letter said.
Under the Constitution, MHA does not have any powers to declare any order of GNCTD void. It is only the judiciary which has the power to declare any order of GNCTD null and void. MHA seems to be attempting to encroach upon the domain of judiciary, which is dangerous, it added.
The letter further stated that if the MHA was aggrieved then it should approach the judiciary, adding that Inquiry Commission would continue to do its work.
According to sources, the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) has reopened the 2002 scam which took place under the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress Government in which three top officials are under the scanner.
In 2012, the ACB had launched a probe after it found that the then Delhi Government had incurred a loss of Rs. 100 crore in awarding the contract of operation and maintenance of inspection and certification of CNG vehicles.
Sisodia further said that the MHA has issued the communication at a time when the matter is sub-judice as the setting up of the CoI was also challenged in a PIL in Delhi High Court.
He said the petitioner demanded that the notification setting up the CoI should be stayed and added that the court even refused to issue a formal notice to Delhi government in the matter.
"Court has only asked the government to file a short affidavit in the matter. The next date of hearing is on September 23," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
"I would urge you (LG) to kindly inform MHA that if at all MHA is aggrieved, they may like to approach judiciary for the same. The commission will continue to work and we expect every one to cooperate with the Commission's proceedings," he added.
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 "Delhi Government is not subordinate of Ministry of Home Affairs: Sisodia to LG Jung")
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