SC agrees to hear AAP govt pleas on tussle

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to list next week the petitions filed by the AAP government seeking clarity on the extent of powers between chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the lieutenant- governor in the administration.

On July 4, a Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had held that the L- G was bound to act as per the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers and he cannot create any obstruction in the administration.

The bench had clarified that issues regarding various notifications issued by the Delhi government in exercise of its administrative and legislative powers would be dealt with separately by an appropriate smaller bench but no time limit was specified for disposal.

On Tuesday, Delhi government counsel Rahul Mehra urged the CJI to list the case before the appropriate bench at the earliest as the tussle continued even after the verdict. The CJI said he would consider listing the matter next week.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A. M. Khanwilkar and D. Y. Chandrachud considered the submission of the Delhi government that even after the verdict, the stalemate over the issue of public services was continuing and that needed to be dealt with by an appropriate bench. “It will be listed sometime in next week,” the bench said.

The apex court had in its July 4 ruling, vindicated Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has long accused the L- G of preventing his government from functioning properly.

It had said that barring three issues of public order, police and land, the Delhi government has the power to legislate and govern on other issues.