We want to help Delhi government, says Jung after HC judgement

New Delhi, Aug 4 (IANS) Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung on Thursday said the High Court judgement confirming his primacy over the Delhi government was not about anyone's triumph or defeat.

"It's just about the validation of the Constitution by the court, and not about anyone's victory," Jung told media here.

Denying the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's allegation that the LG Office was working against it, Jung said: "We want to help the elected government without interfering in its functioning. We will continue to extend constitutional support to the government."

He read out the oath he took when sworn in as Delhi L-G, and said: "The Lt. Governor takes the oath to follow the Constitution of India. I followed it too."

In a significant remark, Jung said his office would review all decisions and orders taken by the Delhi government in the last one-and-half years.

As for Delhi government's charge that he (Jung) worked at the behest of the central government, the Lt. Governor said he was "not ashamed" of reporting to the Centre.

"I was appointed by the President (of India); I report to the central government. Why should I be ashamed of it? But we will have to confine ourselves within the constitutional framework," he said.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said the Lt. Governor is not bound by the aid and advice of the Delhi government's Council of Ministers. It further added that the Delhi government notifications must be issued after consulting the L-G.

Meanwhile, Jung said that an order by a sub-divisional magistrate to ban protests outside Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here was invalid.

"The SDM has no authority to give such orders," he said.