New Delhi, May 16 (IANS): A full-blown war erupted on Friday between the Arvind Kejriwal-led government and Lt Governor Najeeb Jung over the appointment of a bureaucrat as the chief secretary in-charge who the former accused of lobbying for power distribution companies.

While the AAP government accused Jung of acting unconstitutionally by appointing Secretary (Services), Shakuntala Gamlin, as the chief secretary in-charge, Jung asserted that he was "competent" to do so.

Jung on Friday gave Gamlin the additional charge of chief secretary of Delhi since incumbent Chief Secretary K.K. Sharma is in the US for personal work.

Jung also expressed regret "that name of senior officer was being brought in public domain in such a manner, that too a lady officer and one belonging to the northeast".

The Delhi government said it had "certain reservations" about Gamlin's conduct and was hesitant to give her additional charge of the chief secretary as she "was perceived to be extremely close to electricity companies in Delhi and was lobbying for their interests".

"However, the lieutenant governor, in a completely unconstitutional manner appointed Shakuntala Gamlin, to this position," the government said in a statement .

"The lieutenant governor by-passed the elected government, the chief minister and deputy chief minister (who also acts as the minister in-charge of services department)," the statement said.

"The lieutenant governor does not have the extra-ordinary powers under the constitution to by-pass the elected government and issue instructions directly to the secretaries, whatever be the provocation," the statement said.