New Delhi:- The Union Home Ministry will first study the Delhi High Court’s observation today terming as “suspects” its recent notification barring the city government’s anti-corruption branch (ACB) from acting against its officers in criminal offences before commenting on it.
“We have not yet received the full text of the High Court’s observations. When we receive it, we will study and accordingly we will react,” a Home Ministry spokesperson said here.
The comment came hours after Delhi High Court termed as “suspect” the Centre’s recent notification barring ACB from acting against its officers in criminal offences and held that the LG cannot act in his discretion.
The High Court noted that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi is bound to act upon the aid and advice of the council of ministers who are directly elected by the citizens of Delhi and the Centre’s “executive fiat” siding with him is “suspect”.
It observed that the mandate of the people “must” be respected by the LG of GNCTD if there was no other “constitutional or legal fetter”.
The AAP government in Delhi and the LG have been involved in a public spat over his powers vis a vis an elected government. The Centre had on May 21 issued a notification siding with the Lt Governor.
The notification said that the ACB police station shall not take cognisance of offences against officials, employees and functionaries of these central government services.
The Delhi Police comes directly under the Home Ministry.
PTI
