Right To Appoint Lawyers Is With State Govt, Centre's Approach Unconstitutional: Manish Sisodia

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said that the Central government has tried to reject the panel of lawyers decided by the Delhi government through the Lieutenant Governor in the past also.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. (File Photo)

New Delhi: Once again there is a conflict between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor over the appointment of a panel of lawyers to hear cases related to the agitating farmers. Kejriwal cabinet has dismissed the panel of lawyers of Delhi Police.

In the meeting of the Delhi cabinet held on Friday, it was decided that the lawyers of the Delhi government would be the public prosecutor in matters related to the farmers' movement.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said in a press conference that the central government has tried to reject the panel of lawyers decided by the Delhi government through the Lieutenant Governor in the past also, but Delhi cabinet has decided that a panel of lawyers selected by Delhi government only will put their opinion.

In a statement issued by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, it has been said that it is the duty of every Indian to support the farmers of the country. "By supporting the farmers, the Delhi government has not done any favours, but has fulfilled its duty towards the farmers of the country. Farmer is not a criminal, not a terrorist, he is our food provider," the statement said.

On the other hand, Manish Sisodia said it is very sad that the Central government is repeatedly trying to create roadblocks in work done by Delhi government which is elected by the people. He said that the appointment of lawyers is a part of the transferred subject and the state government has the right to decide on it. Despite that, repeatedly interfering in this on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor is going against the Constitution.

Sisodia said that the functions of the Central Government, Delhi Government and the Lieutenant Governor are well defined in the Indian Constitution. Also, on July 4, 2018, a Constitutional Bench of five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court had made the decision that Only Delhi Government has the right to make the decision on the transferred subject, not Lieutenant Governor.

The Lieutenant Governor has been given veto power to give his opinion in the decision of the government. However, the Constitutional Bench had interpreted that the Lieutenant Governor can use his veto power only in very rare circumstances. But going against the decision of the Constitutional Bench, every day Lieutenant Governor is misusing his veto power to prevent the elected government of the people from doing the works of public interest and in this way democracy is being murdered.

Manish Sisodia said that instead of helping the farmers, the anti-farmer central government is stopping Delhi government from helping farmers with the help of the Lieutenant Governor. Also, by abusing his veto power every day on behalf of the Lieutenant Governor, to stop the government from working is to make a mockery of democracy. In such cases, when you use your veto power, you also make fun of the Constitution and go against the judgments of the Supreme Court.