HC: Bedi 'cannot interfere' in day-to-day affairs of elected government

The Madras High Court on Tuesday held that Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi cannot interfere in the daytoday affairs of the elected government of the Union Territory a decision hailed by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy who termed it as victory of democracyAllowing a petition by K Laksminarayanan a Congress MLA Justice R Mahadevan set aside the two communications issued in January and June 2017 by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs elevating the power of the administratorReferring to the Supreme Court judgement on the tussle between Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Lt Governor Anil Baijal the judge said restrictions imposed on the Government of Delhi are not applicable to the Government of PuducherryThe apex court has clearly held that there is a distinction between the National Capital Territory of Delhi and Puducherry the judge said Though Puducherry was not a state the Legislative Assembly would have the same powers as that of a state he saidHailing the judgement Congress leader and Chief Minister Narayanasamy who has been at loggerheads with Bedi over various issues said the court order was historic and demonstrates the victory of democracyIn her reaction Bedi said We are examining the judgement The judge in his order said The Administrator cannot interfere in the daytoday affairs of the government The decision taken by the Council of Ministers and the Chief Minister is binding on the Secretaries and other officialsThe petitioner Lakshminarayanan is an elected member of the Puducherry assembly from the Raj Bhavan constituency He submitted that there were political differences between the elected Government of Puducherry and the CentreShe Bedi conducts review meetings with the officials directly bypassing the elected government carries out inspections and issues onthespot orders and thereby runs a parallel and diametrically opposite government within the government he claimedThe petitioner also alleged that the Administrator was interfering in the daytoday administration of the territorial government its policies and programmesThe judge observed that the court had already discussed the role of secretaries They normally act only as a medium of communication utmost to render their opinion at circumstances and have no power or authority to override the decisions of the CouncilThough they may report to the Administrator nominated by the President still they cannot shed their duty to the decision of the Council of Ministers taken as per the procedure laid down in the Government of Union Territories Act and the Rules of Business of the Government of Pondicherry 1963they cannot jump the gun and run a parallel Government under the directions of the Administrator the judge said The court said elected representatives of the government play a major role in decision making or else there would be no purpose in having an elected government who are the true representatives of the peoplethe elected government functioning through the Council of Ministers cannot be defeated by the act of the Administrator who is also functioning under the provisions of the Constitution by way of interfering in the day to day affairs of the Government it saidAlluding to the allegations overuse of social media by the Administrator Bedi to summon officials the Judge said The Government officials cannot use their personal media to address the grievances of the publicA public redressal forum in the form of official emails telephone numbers are to be circulated and used if already not put into useThe Administrator has no exclusive authority to run the administration in derogation of the Constitutional Principles and the Parliamentary Laws governing the issue he addedResponding to the court order Narayanasamy said The High Court has in its order pointed out unequivocally that Kiran Bedi does not have independent powers and she must work in tandem with the elected government in administrative and service matters the financial aspect of governanceWe are examining the judgment after which we shall take a view Bedi said in a Whatsapp message to mediaShe said the Model Code of Conduct in the context of the parliamentary polls was still in force and files which require Lt Governors approval such as service matters promotions appointments disciplinary matters and financial sanctions for grant in aid are being received and being examinedThey are being cleared on merits of each case she addedCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates