Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal resigns citing 'personal reasons'
The Delhi Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal resigned from his post on Wednesday citing "personal reasons". He was appointed the national capital's L-G in December 2016. "He (Baijal) has submitted his resignation to the President Ram Nath Kovind," the official told news agency PTI. Notably, he has completed his tenure and an appointment of his successor has been due.
Why does this story matter?
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government and L-G Baijal were at loggerheads on several occasions during the latter's tenure. In 2018, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet of ministers had held a dharna at the L-G office accusing Baijal of not letting the government run smoothly. Baijal has reportedly not worked to resolve the issues between bureaucrats and the government in Delhi.
Baijal assumed power in December 2016 after Najeeb Jung's resignation
A 1969 batch IAS officer, Baijal had taken over as L-G after the abrupt resignation of his predecessor Najeeb Jung in December 2016. Ever since, his tenure has been in news for the very many conflicts with Kejriwal. Most notably, there was an all-out power tussle when the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, was passed by the Parliament in 2021.
SC spelled out Delhi government and L-G's powers in 2018
Amid the power struggle between AAP and the L-G, the Supreme Court—in a landmark judgment in 2018—had spelled out their powers more clearly. A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had ruled that decisions of the elected government of Delhi—except for anything related to land, police, and public order—do not require the concurrence of the L-G who only needs to be informed.
Baijal served in several eminent positions
Earlier, Baijal had served as Union Home Secretary in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government. He was also the Chief Secretary of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Additional Home Secretary in Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, MD of Indian Airlines, CEO of Prasar Bharati, Development Commissioner of Goa, and Commissioner (Sales Tax and Excise) of Delhi.
