New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has hit back at the Centre's declaration of the inquiry commission constituted by the AAP government to look into the affairs of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) as “unconstitutional and illegal”, saying that the probe panel was formed in conformity with the law.
“DDCA enquiry commission set up by Delhi Government is as per law and Constitution of India. Centre's opinion not binding on Delhi government,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.
A defiant Kejriwal further said that only the court had the powers to stop a commission from operating. “Commission will continue work. If LG or MHA or PMO aggrieved, they may approach court. Only a court order can stop commission's work,” he added.
Earlier today, the Centre declared an inquiry commission constituted by the Delhi government to look into the dealings of Delhi's cricket administration body as “unconstitutional”.
In a notification to the Delhi government issued by Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, the Home ministry has held that the inquiry launched by the Delhi government is illegal because it does not have the jurisdiction to look into the affairs of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA).
"...the elected Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi is neither the Central Government nor the State Government within the meaning of Sections 2 and 3 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. Therefore, it has no jurisdiction or power to set up a Comission of Inquiry under the said Act," the Home Ministry said in the notification.
The last month of the previous year saw Delhi CM Kejriwal level serious allegations in the dealings of the DDCA under the watch of Finance minister Arun Jaitley, who served as president of the organisation from 2000 to 2013.
This was followed by Kejriwal appointing former Solicitor General and top lawyer Gopal Subramanium to probe the allegations. However, the Home ministry has now held the enquiry as unconstitutional.
“Ministry of Home Affairs has accordingly held that the notification issued by the Directorate of Vigilance, Government of NCT of Delhi (regarding the enquiry) is unconstitutional, illegal and therefore has no legal effect," the Home ministry notice added.
The matter has also reached the court with Jaitley suing Kejriwal for defamation over allegations of corruption in the DDCA. Jaitley has termed these as baseless allegations to tarnish his image.
Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been locked in a bitter turf war over its jurisdiction over Delhi. Both sides have repeatedly targeted each other for over-stepping boundaries.
