‘Atishi to hoist national flag on Independence Day’, Delhi minister Gopal Rai tells govt department

Amid uncertainty over who will hoist the national flag during the official Delhi government function on Independence Day, the General Administration Department (GAD) in Delhi said on Tuesday (August 13, 2024) that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in jail in a corruption case, cannot authorise minister Atishi to do so on his behalf.

GAD Minister Gopal Rai on Monday directed the department to make arrangements for Atishi to unfurl the flag as the Chief Minister "desires". Responding to the minister's communication, GAD additional chief secretary Navin Kumar Chaudhary said the CM's direction is "legally invalid and cannot be acted upon".

The GAD officer has also said the Chief Minister's communication to Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena on August 6 in this regard was "not permissible" according to the prison rules.