Sheila, L-G show no signs of relenting
After returning from her Tokyo visit, chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Friday held a meeting of her ministers amid heavy speculation that it was in connection with the circle rates issue, which is threatening to snowball into a major controversy between lieutenant governor and her. However, officials maintained that the outcome of Tokyo visit was discussed at the meeting, which lasted for about three hours.
But sources said the officials and the ministers have been asked not to discuss about the issues taken up in the meeting.
It is understood that the chief minister was not in a mood to tow the line adopted by Mr Khanna, who has so far returned the proposal of hike in circle rates twice to the Delhi government. The government has, in turn, sent back the proposal to him without making any changes.
Mr Khanna wanted certain moderation in the hike of the circle rates and change in the category of a few colonies. However, the chief minister is apparently not in a mood to accommodate his views on the issue.
The issue may snowball into a bigger controversy if the L-G decides to refer the matter to the President. This will, in turn, require intervention from the ministry of home affairs as, if at all, the situation arises, the President would refer the matter to the ministry concerned for advice.
Earlier in the week, the L-G had returned the file on circle rates directing changes in the rates. The government had sent the file back unchanged within 24 hours, claiming that once the government re-sends a file after consideration, the L-G was constitutionally bound to approve it.
Sources pointed out, the L-G has cited a clause in the Indian Stamp Act and the subsequent Indian Stamp (Delhi Amendment) Act that suggests that the right to determine the stamp duty rests with the L-G. However, the office of the L-G had not made any official comment on the issue.
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