Delhi Govt vs Centre: Kejriwal Calls SC Verdict 'Victory of Democracy'; BJP Warns of 'Long Term Ramifications'

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Centre-Delhi services row that ruled the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over services in the national capital.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is set to the Delhi Secretariat for the first time in many months and held a meeting with his cabinet ministers, termed the verdict a “victory of democracy”

Kejriwal expressed his “heartfelt thanks” to the Supreme Court for “doing justice to the people of Delhi” and said the pace of development will increase manifold.

Addressing a press briefing, Kejriwal said, “We thank Justice DY Chandrachud and all the judges of the bench for this decision. I want to congratulate the people of Delhi. After today’s decision more work will be done and we will give a responsive government. Many government employees and officers will be transferred. Because of the earlier administration, Jal Board payment was stopped and hindrance was made in establishing Mohalla clinics.”

In a unanimous verdict, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the L-G is bound by the aid and advice of the NCT government except the matters relating to land, public order and police.

Welcoming ‘every legal count’ of the verdict, Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who represented Delhi government in the case vs the Lieutenant Governor, said the judgement is in favour of the people of Delhi.

“We hope and trust that all such over adventurous legal acrobatics as practised by the Central govt in the NCT case will not reoccur,” he said.

Welcoming the verdict, the AAP said in a tweet in Hindi, “The elected government will have the power of transfer-posting of officers. Officers will work only through the elected government.”

The Lt Governor will have no power over the officers to stop the work of the people of Delhi, the party said.

AAP Rajya Sabha Raghav Chadha called the verdict a “landmark decision” and said it sends a stern message.

“Satyamev Jayate. Delhi wins. Hon’ble Supreme Court’s landmark judgment sends a stern message that officers working with the government of Delhi are meant to serve (the) people of Delhi through the elected government and not unelected usurpers parachuted by Centre to stall governance, namely LG,” Chadha tweeted.

AAP senior leader and minister Atishi called the verdict “historic” and said, “After a long battle, the Supreme Court got the Arvind Kejriwal government its right. Now, no one will be able to obstruct the work of the people of Delhi.” ”

This historic decision is a win for the people of Delhi. Now Delhi will progress at double the speed. Congratulations everyone!” she said in a tweet in Hindi.

Saurabh Bharadwaj, another minister in the Delhi government, tweeted, “Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal fought a legal battle for the people of Delhi for eight years. Today, the people won.”

Meanwhile, the BJP said the top court’s decision will have long-term ramifications in future, not just in Delhi, but in other Union Territories as well.

“Supreme Court decision on power of Union Territories will have long term ramifications not only confined to Delhi but also to J&K in future,” said RP Singh, national spokesperson of Bharatiya Janta party (BJP).

SC Verdict

Hearing the Centre versus the Delhi government case over the demarcation of power, a constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said an elected government needs to have control over the administration.

It refused to agree with Justice Ashok Bhushan’s 2019 judgment that the city government has no power over the issue of services.

The constitution bench was set up to hear the legal issue concerning the scope of legislative and executive powers of the Centre and the National Capital Territory government over control of services in Delhi.