What did the court observe in landmark verdict?

The following are the highlights of the Supreme Court ruling on the division of power between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor: Lt Governor is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

Lt Governor has not been entrusted with any independent decision making power. Lt Governor has to either act on the ‘aid and advice’ of Council of Ministers or he is bound to implement the decision taken by the President on a reference being made by him.

The Centre has exclusive executive power over land, police, law and order.

The executive power of Delhi government is co-extensive with the legislative powers of the Delhi Assembly.

The executive power of the Council of Ministers spans over all the subjects covered under the concurrent list and the State list of the Constitution except land, police, law and order.

By no stretch of imagination, National Capital Territory of Delhi can be accorded the status of State under the present constitutional scheme. Lt Governor is an Administrator in a limited sense. Parliament has the power to make laws for the NCT Delhi on any matter under the State list and the concurrent list. Delhi Assembly too has the powers to enact laws on the all the subjects covered under the concurrent list and the State list minus land, police, law and order. The executive action of the State must conform to the law

made by the Parliament on certain subject falling under concurrent and State lists. Lt Governor should not act in a mechanical manner without due application of mind so as to refer every decision of the Council of Ministers to the President.

The difference of opinion between the Lt. Governor and the Council of Ministers should have sound rationale and should not be the phenomenon of an obstructionist.