“Supreme Court Verdict on Delhi Governance Dispute Between the Central Government and AAP Government”

# b. Balagopal / Mathrubhumi News

New Delhi: The Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court today (Thursday) pronounced its decisive verdict in the dispute between the Central government and the Aam Aadmi Party government regarding governance in Delhi. Chief Justice D.Y. A five-member constitution bench chaired by Chandrachud pronounces judgment on the petitions. The Supreme Court will also clarify its position today on the central government’s demand that the matter be referred to the seven-member constitution bench.

239 AA of the Constitution. A five-judge constitution bench will rule on who has administrative authority in Delhi under the Article. The judgment was given on a petition filed by the Delhi government alleging that the central government is controlling the officers of Delhi by using the lieutenant governor. The Aam Aadmi Party government argued in the Supreme Court that a government without control over its officials is like a king without a kingdom. But since Delhi is the national capital, it is the position of the Center that they have a major role to play in the governance here.

In 2018, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court ruled that the Lt. Governor of Delhi is bound to follow the advice of the government. The Constitution Bench also demanded that the Center and the Government work together. But even after that, the dispute between the Delhi government and the central government continued on issues including the appointment of officers.

On February 14, 2019, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court had written dissenting judgments on the petitions related to this dispute. Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan wrote Bhinnavidhi. Following this, the matter came up for consideration by a three-judge bench. Considering the central government’s request, the three-judge bench left the Delhi government’s petition for consideration by the five-judge bench. But Chief Justice D.Y. A five-member bench chaired by Chandrachud had asked the central government to leave the matter to a seven-member constitution bench while hearing the petition.