Terming the Delhi High Court verdict as "historic", Lieutenant Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung said today, "When we get elected, it doesn't mean we are rulers and instead we will have to work and confine ourselves to our roles and jobs which are in the framework of the Constitution".
Jung's remarks came hours after the Delhi High Court held that the LG is the administrative head of the National Capital Territory and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's contention that he is bound to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers was "without substance".
He said that today's judgment of the Delhi High Court is "historic" and in view of this, he has come out to address his first press conference in the last three years.
"When we get elected, we are not rulers of this country. You, me and nobody is the ruler. We will have to work and confine ourselves to our works and jobs which are in the framework of the Constitution," Jung told reporters in New Delhi.
Asked why he did not speak to media when AAP leaders, including the CM, "attacked" him on several issues, the Lt Governor quoted an Urdu couplet: "Waqt aane pe bata denge tujhe aye aasman, Hum abhi se kya batayen kya hamare dil mein." (When the time comes, we shall tell thee, O heaven / For why should we tell thee now, what lurks in our hearts?)
He said that there was no aggression on his part and he did not try to interfere in the functioning of an elected government but as Delhi is a Union territory, they (AAP) will have to seek the LG's nod as per the Constitution.
In Delhi, there was a chief commissioner's rule in 1920. The power of commissioner was handed over to the Lt Governor. In 1989, the Central government had formed Balakrishnan Committee and there was a debate on its report in Parliament.
"The report favours that Delhi should remain Union territory and should not be made full statehood. In the report, Balakrishnan said that as we will have Assembly, but we should keep it (Delhi) union territory," Jung said.
The Lt Governor said that he was the delegate of the President of India.
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