Delhi chief minister Arwind Kejriwal failed to understand that the Cabinet is not above law. Three years back, Delhi cabinet decided to constitute Delhi Dialogue Commission (DDC) with Ashish Khetan as its chief. Khetan's privileges were at par with ministers. Khetan resigned from his position on Wedneday morning.
In fact, Delhi cabinet has hoodwinked law of the land and there are dozens of such cases. The constitution of Delhi Dialogue Commission is one such case. Delhi is union territory and therefore any decision having financial implications needs approval of Competent Authority ie LG and the Home Ministry.
Kejriwal hoodwinked LG and Home Ministry in this case (and also in dozens of other decisions). Former Lt Governor Najeeb Jung decided to appoint Shunglu Committee to examine hundreds of such cases where Kejriwal cabinet had faltered in taking appropriate decision as per law. Subsequently, Najeeb Jung had declared Delhi Dialogue Commission null and void. But Khetan did not resign when Jung declared DDC an illegal body. On Tuesday, MHA ordered sacking of ten advisors of Delhi government whose appointments were illegal.
Soon after the sacking of ten advisors on Tuesday, Khetan resigned from his DDC post on Wednesday. Probably, he could gauge the mood of MHA that illegal body cannot operate any more as MHA is now watchful. After his resignation, the crucial issue is still unanswered. If an illegal body kept operating for three years, how much government money was illegally spent during this course of time and what legal course needs to be taken to asses this financial embezzlement of government fund. The MHA has this task to explore financial embezzlement as Najib Jung had declared Delhi Dialogue Commission an illegal body.