Kejriwal, Sisodia to meet L-G today amid new tiff with bureaucrats

Kejriwal with Baijal (File) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal with Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal | PTI

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will meet Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Friday to discuss the Supreme Court verdict that clipped the power of the lieutenant governor in administrative matters.

This will be the first meeting between the chief minister and the lieutenant governor after the Supreme Court order on the power tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre.

"The chief minister and the deputy chief minister will meet the lieutenant governor tomorrow [Friday] to discuss the SC verdict," an official said.

Earlier on Thursday, Kejriwal sought an appointment with Baijal to discuss the situation arising out of the Supreme Court order.

Meanwhile, the relationship between the AAP dispensation and bureaucrats strained further on Thursday over its transfer and posting order, with Kejriwal warning officers of "serious consequences" if they did not comply with the city government's directive on transfers and postings.

The Delhi government also explored legal options, including filing contempt petitions, against those who refused to comply with the directive, an official said.

Hours after the Supreme Court's landmark judgement on Wednesday, the government introduced a new system for transfer and postings of bureaucrats, making the chief minister the approving authority.

However the services department refused to comply, saying the Supreme Court did not abolish the May 21, 2015, notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs, according to which services matters lie with the lieutenant governor.

The Supreme Court in its landmark judgement on Wednesday had said the lieutenant governor is bound by the elected government's advice and cannot be an "obstructionist".