The Supreme Court on Monday will hear the Aam Aadmi Party’s petition regarding the Delhi government’s power in the national capital. The court on Friday refused to stay the Delhi High Court order from last year on the division of constitutional powers between the Centre and the Delhi government, ANI reported. The petition also calls for correct interpretation of Article 239 AA of the Constitution, which grants Delhi special status as the National Capital Region, which is under the nominal leadership of a lieutenant-governor.
The government of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to control the region, despite it only having three legislators in the Delhi Assembly as against AAP’s 67. Lawyer Indira Jaising, who is representing the Delhi government, told the apex court that the capital is amid a “virtual paralysis” as a result of the battle over jurisdiction in the region.
Delhi’s partial statehood gives the Centre control over land, the Delhi Police and other important matters. Jaising urged the top court to come to a decision on granting Delhi statehood, NDTV reported.
AAP had moved the high court last year, challenging a central notification that had declared that Kejriwal’s authority in Delhi was limited and that he has no say in the appointment of bureaucrats. The Centre had approached the Supreme Court after the high court deemed the notification “suspect”.
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