Lt. Governor Declares Empanelment Of Senior Advocates By Delhi Government Invalid [Read Letter]

Lieutenant Governor of Delhi Anil Baijal has declared as invalid the empanelment of Senior Advocates by the Delhi Government last year to conduct cases on the State's behalf and give their legal opinion.

The notification had named thirteen senior advocates including Indira Jaising, Colin Gonsalves, Rebecca Mammen John, Anand Grover, and Sanjay R. Hegde. It had also prescribed the professional fee to be paid to them for the appearance and legal opinions.

However, in a  letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of Delhi, the Principal Secretary to the Lt. Governor has now asserted that the order was issued in derogation of the procedure prescribed under Section 44 (2) of the GNCTD Act, and was not authenticated in the manner provided under Section 44 (3) of the Act. The order, Mr. Baijal opined, should've been issued with his approval.

Soon after issuance of the letter by Mr. Baijal, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal expressed his disappointment on Twitter, asserting that the rejection is "completely illegal, unconstitutional and without jurisdiction". He further said that the LG does not have the power to reject any Government proposal, but can only express his difference of opinion.