Can't follow your directions: Sisodia to LG on appointments

In a new twist to the tussle between Delhi government and Lt Governor over appointments, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia today said that the LG's direction cannot be complied with as it was against the provisions of law and Constitution, and also accused him of leaking letters to media.

In his letter to LG Najeeb Jung, Sisodia also said that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal would write a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

"Your (L-G) directions are against the provisions of law and Constitution and therefore cannot be complied with. However, Chief Minister is also writing a letter to PM separately in this regard," the Deputy CM wrote in his letter.

Earlier in the day, Principal Secretary (Services) Anindo Majumdar today found his office locked, which was done as per the directive from the Chief Minister's Office and subsequently, the AAP government appointed Rajendra Kumar, who is secretary to Chief Minister, to the post.

Promptly reacting to Kumar's appointment, the L-G shot off a letter to Kejriwal, declaring his posting in place of Majumdar "void" and categorically made it clear that he was the final authority for appointment and transfer of senior bureaucrats.

Sisodia reacted strongly claiming that Delhi government got to know about Jung's letter through media, and accused him of leaking his letter, which was sent to the government, to the media.

"I am surprised to know from media that Hon LG has written a letter to me. Not received any such letter...(SIC)," the deputy CM said in his series of tweets.

"Strange that a Constitutional Authority leaking letters addressed to Dy CM before it is received. Is it allowed under Constitution of India? (SIC)," Sisodia tweeted.

After receiving L-G's letter, he tweeted, "Letter received from Hon. LG at 14.35, (SIC)."
Majumdar was removed from the post by Kejriwal on Saturday after he issued the appointment letter to Shakuntala Gamlin on the instructions from Jung. The LG, on the same evening, had declared the order to transfer Majumdar "void", saying it did not have his approval.

In his letter to Kejriwal written today, Jung said, he rejected Kumar's appointment as it was against the laid down rules and procedure.

Yesterday, Kejriwal had accused acting Chief Secretary Shakuntala Gamlin of trying to favour two Reliance Infra-owned discoms through a Rs 11,000-crore loan and claimed the Modi government wants AAP dispensation to "fail".

The confrontation over appointment of Gamlin as acting chief secretary had turned into a full-blown war between the ruling AAP and Jung last week with Kejriwal alleging that the LG was trying to take over the administration.

Despite Kejriwal's strong opposition, Jung had appointed Gamlin to the post on Friday. On Saturday, the chief minister had asked her not to take charge of the post but she ignored his directive and followed the LG's order.