Kejriwal, Baijal spar again
New Delhi, July 9 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday urged Lt Governor Anil Baijal to fully implement the Supreme Court order giving primacy to the Delhi government on all matters except three in letter and spirit. Baijal responded that appeals were pending before a regular bench in the apex court and not to draw premature conclusions.
Kejriwal questioned Baijal over what he said was his selective acceptance of the Supreme Court ruling and advised him to approach the apex court immediately for clarification in case of any confusion.
"I would again urge you to fully implement the order of the SC in letter and spirit. MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) does not have the power to interpret the SC order. If you have any confusion, kindly approach SC immediately for clarification but kindly don't violate the SC order," Kejriwal wrote in a letter dated July 9.
Kejriwal also wrote that the Lt Governor was ready for the files and concurrence part of the order but not implementing the part which says that the "executive powers of the Central government are limited to three subjects only".
"How can you be selective in accepting the judgement? Either you should take a position that all the matters would now be placed before a regular bench and therefore you would not implement any part of the order. Or you should accept the whole order and implement it. How can you say that you will accept this para of the order but not accept that para of the same order?"
The Supreme Court on July 4 ruled that the executive powers, except for public order, police and land, were vested in the elected government and the Lt Governor was bound to act on the aid and advise of the government in all other matters.
In response, Baijal said that Kejriwal had "erroneously mentioned" about the selective implementation of the judgment.
"When appeals are still pending before the regular bench, it will be premature to draw any conclusions in this regard," said a statement from the LG office.
"While the entire judgment and its implications are still being studied, it may kindly be noted that in the concluding paras, the court while answering the reference has directed to place the matters before the appropriate regular bench. Therefore, further clarity will be achieved when the appeals pending before the regular bench are finally disposed," it said.
Baijal pointed out that even before Kejriwal's letter reached his office, it had appeared on the social and electronic media.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
