File photo of Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung
A memo warning officials against following Delhi government orders is the latest flashpoint in the running feud between the two top men of the capital, Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Last night, Mr Jung directed bureaucrats not to follow recent orders by the Delhi government, linked to pay revision and an inquiry commission, and warned of action if they did.
"The government of India has taken note of current constitutional position in Delhi and major instances of violation of the constitution, laws and rules, such as change in the pay structure of DANICS (Delhi Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service) officers, the constitution of a so-called Commission of Inquiry etc," he said in a memorandum. These decisions, he asserted, had been declared illegal by the Centre.
Mr Jung warned that if officers did follow the state government, they could face disciplinary action as well as a fine for "recovery of financial loss caused to the Government as a result of such an action."
Mr Kejriwal deplored such a letter in the middle of his efforts to tackle Delhi's worst dengue outbreak in five years. "I want to request the central government and Narendra Modi that Delhi is fighting with Dengue and in such situation this kind of letter is not right. If they want to do something then they should help Delhi government to help fight this disease," he said.
The row that has been simmering since the Aam Aadmi Party took power in February intensified after the Kejriwal government ordered an inquiry in an alleged scam involving the contract for fitness certificates for public transport using CNG and said the Lieutenant Governor and former chief minister Sheila Dikshit could be questioned.
The Lieutenant Governor called the inquiry illegal and said the scam is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Branch, which reports to him.
The Centre and Mr Jung say that as a Union Territory, key matters of Delhi's administration rest with the Union government and its representative, the Lieutenant Governor, not the state government.