Now, it’s Kejriwal vs L-G

• Central government's clearance not needed: CM
• AAP asks what need of an elected government ?
• Questions L-G’s move of not consulting Delhi govt
• On which Bill you had sought SG's opinion? Asks CM

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday wrote a strong letter to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung, saying central government's clearance was not needed before tabling the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Assembly.

Kejriwal's letter states that Constitution doesn't warrant that consent be taken from the Centre before passing the Bill. The AAP leader also asked about the need of an elected government if Centre's consent was needed to pass every bill.

The Delhi CM also alleged that the Lt Governor is under pressure from the Congress and Home Ministry. Kejriwal wrote: "I know that you are under pressure from the Congress and the Home Ministry. They will be putting pressure on you to not allow the Assembly session in Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium."

"Now it is for you to decide whether you will be able to stand up to the pressure or not. You are a genuine person. But I humbly want to suggest to you that you had taken an oath to protect the Constitution and not the interest of any party or the Home Ministry," he said in a strongly-worded letter to Jung.

The AAP leader also questioned Jung's move of not consulting the Delhi government before sending the bill for legal opinion.

"I was surprised when I heard on television about SG's opinion. On which Bill you had sought SG's opinion as we had sent the draft to you only in the evening and on which bill he had given you opinion," he said.

On Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran's view that it was necessary to get approval from the Centre before tabling the Bill in the assembly, Kejriwal said nowhere in the Constitution is it written that the Centre's consent was required except on three issues which he did not elaborate.

He also did not accept the view that the Jan Lokpal would be repugnant to the central law -- the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act -- saying if there was any such defect the law enacted by the assembly would anyhow go to the President for approval.

The Chief Minister described as "unconstitutional" a Home Ministry order that says that Delhi government has to take permission from the Centre before enacting any law.

Kejriwal's reaction comes after Parasaran on Thursday insisted that Lt Governor's prior approval is necessary before the bill is passed by the Cabinet.

Parasaran, whose opinion was sought by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on the constitutionality of the Delhi Government's proposal to enact the Bill without seeking Centre's clearance, is understood to have conveyed to him that it will be illegal if enacted without the consent, a PTI report said.

The SG is also believed to have told the LG that Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, passed last year by Parliament, is in force and a Lokpal Bill in Delhi will be repugnant to the central law. Therefore, it will require the assent of the President.

No power cut till Mar 26: SC

In a reprieve to residents of Delhi, the Supreme Court directed NTPC not to cut power supply till March 26 to Reliance Group-owned power distribution companies for not clearing outstanding dues of over Rs. 300 crore.

The apex court also directed BSES to pay Rs 50 crore within two weeks and posted the case for final hearing on March 26. Till then, state-owned National Thermal Power Corporation will continue to supply power.

Observing that it is the consumers who suffer due to fight between two firms, a bench headed by Justice S S Nijjar directed the NTPC not to discontinue the power supply till the matter is heard.

Amid Delhi Government's standoff with BSES discoms, Kejriwal said the two companies will be "thrown out" of Delhi if they fail to improve their services and new players will be brought in to replace them.

Meanwhile, Additional District and Sessions Judge Arun Kumar Tripathi has taken voluntary retirement and joined AAP.

Tripathi, who joined the party, said if given a chance he would contest from Deoria parliamentary seat in the coming Lok Sabha polls. "I want to follow Anna Hazare's ideology and fight corruption", Tripathi, who served as judge for over 28 years, said.