The Aam Aadmi Party government on Friday filed six new petitions in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order that had ruled that the Capital was a Union Territory under the administrative control of its lieutenant governor, PTI reported. It also withdrew the civil suit in which it had sought statehood for the National Capital Region.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led government withdrew the lawsuit after the apex court asked the AAP to file an appeal against the high court's decision instead of pursuing the case further. The bench also said that the petitioner can bring up the issues mentioned in the withdrawn suit when its pleas are being heard, and that the Delhi government can file another case “if any fresh cause of action” arises in the matter.
On August 4, the Delhi High Court had ruled that the lieutenant governor was the administrative head of the National Capital Region and rejected the AAP government’s contention that the person holding the post needed to act on the advice of the Delhi Cabinet. In its 194-page verdict, the high court further said that the Union Territory’s Council of Ministers must confer with the lieutenant governor before making key decisions.
The Kejriwal government had moved the high court after the Home Affairs Ministry passed a notification on May 21, giving “unprecedented powers” on matters such as public order, police and services to Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung.
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