Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel on Wednesday wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, asking him to withdraw an order on not admitting any questions raised by legislators in the House on reserved subjects.
Goel, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, cabinet ministers and AAP MLAs also wore black bands in protest against the move.
The Speaker said he would seek the intervention of President Ram Nath Kovind and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan over the issue, if the LG did not withdraw his order during the budget session of the House. The session will continue till April 3.
Sources said Goel might also write to Assembly speakers of other states, seeking their support to lodge a protest against the Delhi L-G’s move.
“I have written to the Lt Governor seeking withdrawal of his letter. If he (L-G) does not withdraw his letter during the budget session of the Delhi Assembly, I will write to the President and Lok Sabha Speaker on the issue,” Goel told reporters.
On Monday, Goel had said that the Lt Governor had written a letter to the effect that the Speaker cannot accept questions in the Assembly regarding reserved subjects like law, land and services.
Baijal had taken the opinion of the Legal Affairs Department of the central government on the issue.
“The officers should realise that legislation on reserved subjects and seeking replies on matters of public interest are two different issues. Officers are duty-bound to provide replies to all questions admitted (by the Assembly),” the Speaker had said.