Delhi High Court Wednesday refused to stay the Centre’s notification barring the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) of the Delhi government from acting against its officers. The High Court was hearing a fresh public interest litigation (PIL) in the matter. While refusing to stay the May 21 notification, the HC tagged the PIL with another plea on a similar matter. The High Court said that it cannot stay the notification as it is the vacation bench and that the regular bench is seized of the matter.
The HC had earlier also refused to stay the notification that was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs to clarify the powers of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, apart from curbing the powers of the ACB. The notification was issued amid a tug of war between LG Najeeb Jung and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over appointment and transfer of bureaucratic officers. The Aam Aadmi Party government had challenged the notification, arguing it was violative of the constitutional provisions.