Arvind Kejriwal on SC Verdict: Big Victory For People in Delhi & Democracy
SC said that L-G’s special power-- that of referring matters to the Centre, needs to be exercised in exceptional circumstances and not in a routine manner.
New Delhi, July 4: The Supreme Court in its judgement today said that Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor (L-G) has to respect the city’s democratically elected government and does not have independent decision-making powers, as it heard petitions on the Aam Aadmi Party government’s tussle with the Centre over administrative control of the national capital. Post the judgement, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "A big victory for the people of Delhi...a big victory for democracy."
Reading out the judgment, CJI Misra said that legitimate decisions taken by state government cannot be delayed by L-G. He also said the L-G is bound by aid and advise of the ministers. "L-G can't be an obstructionist." However, the CJI also ruled that Delhi cannot have powers of a full state.
The Supreme Court said that the L-G’s special power-- that of referring matters to the Centre, needs to be exercised in exceptional circumstances and not in a routine manner. The AAP challenged the Delhi High Court's ruling, which stated that Delhi is a Union Territory and the Lieutenant Governor, its administrative head. Since the formation of the AAP government in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been at loggerheads with Lieutenant Governors.
The landmark decision comes days after Kejriwal and his ministers spent nine days in a "sofa dharna" at Lt Governor Anil Baijal's house, demanding that he step in to end an officers' "boycott" of the AAP government.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2018 11:54 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).