Victory for democracy: Kejriwal on SC verdict over power tussle with Centre

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected government shall have control over its officers

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday welcomed the Supreme Court’s verdict that the lieutenant governor (LG) is bound by the elected government’s advice in everything other than public order, police, and land, calling it a victory for democracy. He thanks the Supreme Court for providing justice to the people of Delhi. “This decision will lead to many fold jump in the progress of Delhi,” tweeted Kejriwal, who has also called a meeting of his Cabinet over the verdict.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. (PTI)

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud said it is ideal to hold that a democratically elected government shall have control over its officers.

Ruling Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh echoed Kejriwal and hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led central government for wasting “eight years of people of Delhi” by creating obstacles in the work of the elected government. “Their ill-intentioned operations have now ended. The elected government now has all the rights, not the LG. The decisions of the Cabinet will be binding on the LG,” Singh said.

AAP Member of Parliament Raghav Chadha called the court’s verdict landmark. He said it has sent a stern message that officers are now meant to serve people through the elected government and not unelected usurpers the Centre parachutes to stall governance.

Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj tweeted Kejriwal fought the legal battle for over eight years and now finally the people have won in the court.

Education minister Atishi said now no one will be able to create hurdles in their work. “This is a historic judgment and a victory of the people of Delhi. Delhi will now progress at double pace.”

AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar thanked the Supreme Court and questioned will the BJP again misuse Parliament or bring a new law to disturb the people of Delhi. “The BJP has only this unconstitutional way left for it,” she tweeted.

There was no immediate response from the BJP or LG’s office to the Supreme Court verdict.