Delhi LG Cites 'Procedural Lapses' In Govt's Call For Special Assembly Session, AAP Replies

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government made serious procedural errors in convening a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on Monday, according to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena.

File Photo Of Delhi LG V K Saxena And Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal

Source : Getty

The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government, according to Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, made grave procedural errors in convening a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on Monday. The special session was recommended by the Delhi Cabinet without any specific legislative business, which would have allowed members of the House to come prepared for fruitful deliberations, he said, claiming it violates due procedure.

The Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly has proposed calling the second part of the 4th session of the Assembly, according to a statement released by the L-G office, whereas the Delhi Cabinet has recommended convening the one-day session of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.

Delhi | LG flags grave procedural lapses on part of Delhi Govt in convening the one-day session of Delhi Assembly on Monday: LG office

— ANI (@ANI) April 16, 2023

Senior AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj responded with a set of rules on "House adjournment and procedure for reconvening."

"Let me enlighten LG saab - Under Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Delhi Assembly, Honble Speaker has the power to call a sitting of the House "at any time after the House has been adjourned sine-die," he tweeted, adding, "However as per prevailing parliamentary practice the Speaker convenes only on the recommendation of the Cabinet. The House has not been prorogued and prorogation can be done only on the recommendation of the Cabinet."

Let me enlighten LG saab - Under Rule 17 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Delhi Assembly, Honble Speaker has the power to call a sitting of the House "at any time after the House has been adjourned sine-die". https://t.co/3lFqwpuS0m

— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) April 16, 2023

"As there was no Cabinet recommendation for prorogation, the Hon'ble Speaker rightly summoned the House under Rule 17(2)," Bharadwaj added.

"As per the Rules and Act, the house, adjourned sine die on March 29, must first be prorogued before a new session can be convened," the LG office statement said.

"A new session cannot be convened while a session is unprorogued," according to the statement. "The Delhi Cabinet and Delhi Legislative Assembly are not working in tandem, as required by law, as the Lt. Governor has informed the Chief Minister," it added.

According to the statement, the Delhi Cabinet has recommended a one-day special session with no specific legislative business. "The Cabinet's recommendation to convene the one-day session was made without following the proper procedure," the statement added.

The session takes place at a time when the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) are at odds over the power subsidy, with the former accusing the latter of failing to clear files seeking a subsidy extension.

However, the L-G's office stated that the file had already been approved and that the delay was the fault of Power Minister Atishi.

The CBI summoned Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for questioning in the alleged Delhi liquor scam on Sunday. While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the probe agency of vendetta politics, it claimed to have evidence against the Delhi chief minister on which the summons was issued.