By Apurva Bhatt

The Supreme Court served notice to the Delhi government and asked to reply within three weeks on the Centre's plea for a stay on a high court ruling that restored the power of the state government's anti-corruption branch (ACB) to probe central government's employees in graft cases.

A recent HC ruling had said the anti-corruption branch (ACB) can probe Delhi Police officers, giving a shot in the arm to chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in his tussle with lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung. Delhi Police function under the Union home ministry.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had moved the Delhi high court on Thursday, challenging the home ministry notification that also said Jung had discretionary power over appointments and transfers of key bureaucratic posts in the Capital.

The Supreme Court described as tentative the HC observation, even as it issued the notice to the city government. The apex court, however, clarified that at this stage there was no stay on observations by HC, which had termed the Centre's notification a "suspect".

The NDA government notifcation issued last week barred the ACB from registering cases against central officers, escalating an all-out turf war between CM Kejriwal and LG Jung.  

The gazette notification dated May 21 also said the LG will have jurisdictions over matters connected with services, public order, police and land and he may consult with the chief minister whenever he thinks necessary on issues of services using his own "discretion".

The appointment of senior bureaucrat Gamlin as acting chief secretary by the LG had initiated the slugfest in Delhi, with Kejriwal questioning the LG's authority and accusing him of trying to take over the administration.