In a major setback to Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, the Madras High Court on Tuesday, 30 April, ruled that she "does not have the power to interfere with the day to day activities of the Union Territory government.”
The Madras High Court order verdict came on a writ petition filed by Puducherry Congress MLA Lakshminarayanan in 2017 questioning Puducherry Lieutenant Governor’s (L-G) powers to interfere in the day-to-day administration of the union territory despite the presence of a council of ministers.
Deciding on the case filed by Lakshminarayanan, the court said that "Bedi does not have to power to call for files and give orders to the officials."
“The court said the administrative and financial powers are with the elected government and the Lt.Governor has to act as per the advice of the council of Ministers,” Lakshminarayanan told IANS.
He said the court said it is only the elected government that has the power.
Lakshminarayanan said the court struck down the clarifications issued by Union Home Ministry in 2017 on the powers of the Lt Governor.
According to NDTV, two years ago, in two of its orders in response to clarifications sought by Ms Bedi, the centre had said the Lieutenant Governor has powers to act independently and is not bound by the council of ministers.
Ever since she assumed the office in 2016, Kiran Bedi has been at loggerheads with the Congress government in Puducherry on various issues.
Mr Narayanasamy and the Congress have accused her of delaying clearance to welfare schemes, bypassing the elected government and criticised her weekly field visits.
(With inputs from PTI)
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