Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy on Tuesday said Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi should own moral responsibility for stalling development and welfare schemes in the Union Territory.
Responding to the High Court order upholding the rights of an elected government, the Chief Minister said the judgment vindicated his stand that in a democracy, power lies with the Cabinet.
“Ever since she assumed office as Lt. Governor of the Union Territory, Ms. Bedi has been functioning in an undemocratic manner. Her actions have hindered the progress of Puducherry. She should own moral responsibility for causing hindrance to the functioning of the elected government,” he said. “I have always taken a consistent stand that in a democracy, power lies with an elected government. The judgment is a victory for the people of the Union Territory. The judgment will put an end to the undemocratic style of functioning of the Lt. Governor,” Mr. Narayanasamy added.
‘Lesson to bureaucracy’
Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister K. Lakshminarayan, who filed the petition challenging the powers of the Lt. Governor in the High Court, said the judgment should be a lesson to the bureaucracy, who were hitherto misled by Ms. Bedi. The Lt. Governor had tried to create an impression among the government employees that she was the real administrator. The employees were compelled to take orders from Ms. Bedi, he said.
‘Victory for democracy’
Now, it was crystal clear that administrative and financial powers were with the elected government, he said. “If the officers continue to take orders only from the Lt. Governor, it will amount to contempt and disrespecting the judgment given by the High Court,” he added.
Terming the verdict a victory for democracy, he said the court upheld the views expressed by the government and various parties.