Constitutional amendments needed to give more powers to Guv, Assembly: Jung

In a subtle message to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, with whom he is at loggerhead, Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today said there is a difference between what one desires from the Constitution and what it is and amendment will be required to give more powers to the Assembly and Governor.

Terming Indian Constitution as "Bible", Jung said it was an organic document evolving with time. Interpretations would be followed by amendments with changed context, he said.

"This is also right that when it comes to interpretation there is a difference between how the Constitution is and how it should be. Few people may think there should not be any limitation to the powers of the Lt Governor and the elected Assembly. This may be one idea but that requires Constitutional amendments," he said.

Jung was speaking during the launch of a book titled 'Delhi Government: Powers and Limitations' authored by former Delhi Assembly secretary SK Sharma. Noted constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap was also present at the occasion.

Rejecting suggestions of Delhi being a "special state" or a "half state", Kashyap said that the national capital was administered by the President through the LG and the Union had "overriding" legislative and executive powers over it.

"So technically, Delhi is always under the President's rule... so to say it cannot legislate on three subjects would be wrong. Even if it legislates on state subjects the Parliament's writ would prevail in case there are discrepancies with the Union's law," he said.

He added that the Assembly was merely formed to "satisfy" the popular will. "Or may be to provide local leaders their share in the cake...so that they could enjoy perks like the lal batti," he said on a lighter note.

Without taking any name, Sharma said that "people in power" were not ready to internalise the fact that their status were not same as in the case of other states.

"Getting 67 seats won't change the fact that any change in the governance structure can be brought only through Constitutional amendments. This was done by the framers to maintain stability," Sharma said.