Bad news for Kejriwal: Lt Governor 'administrative head' of Delhi, says HC

There was a legal tussle between Delhi govt and the Centre over control of administrative issues and distribution of power.

New Delhi:

In a major setback to Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government, the High Court on Thursday announced Lieutenant Governor as the ‘administrative head’ of National Capital Territory.

“AAP govt's contention that Lieutenant Governor is bound to act on advice of Council of Ministers is without any substance and cannot be accepted, says High Court.

The court also holds AAP govt's order appointing Commission of Inquiry in the CNG fitness scam and DDCA scam as illegal since the same was issued without concurrence of Lieutenant Governor.

Meanwhile, AAP government's counsel in HC said that they will immediately file an appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.

The verdict was pronounced in the legal tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre over control of administrative issues and distribution of power in the national capital.

The High Court pronounced the verdict on a set of 11 petitions challenging various decisions of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led-Delhi Government and Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, and the interpretation of Article 239 AA of the Constitution.

-"As from the date of commencement of the Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 the Union Territory of Delhi shall be called the National Capital Territory) and the administrator thereof appointed under article 239 shall be designated as the Lieutenant Governor,-" says Article 239 AA.

Arvind Kejriwal-led government had alleged that they are unable to function as most of its decisions are either annulled or changed by the Centre at the behest of the Lieutenant Governor on the ground that Delhi is not a complete state.

On May 24, the High Court had reserved its verdict on the plea of the Delhi Government seeking a stay on the proceedings on the petitions arising out of its standoff with the Lieutenant Governor over powers to appoint bureaucrats in the national capital and other issues.