AAP vs Centre Live: Manish Sisodia says Delhi L-G obstructed govt work

In the Supreme Court’s verdict on the power tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra held that the Lieutenant Governor did not have independent decision-making powers, and was bound to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.The SC was ruling on a batch of appeals filed by Kejriwal’s government challenging the Delhi High Court’s order holding the L-G as the administrative head of the national capital. Both the Centre, with the L-G at the helm, and the Delhi government have been locked in a bitter power tussle ever since the AAP swept to power in Delhi in 2015.Here are the live updates:

5:10 PM IST

BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said the Supreme Court verdict has directed the AAP government to follow the law. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

AAP says Delhi CM will take final call on bureaucrats’ transfers

Sisodia also says Delhi L-G was furtheringPM’s vendetta, according to TV reports.

"दिल्ली सरकार के Services मामलों का मंत्री होने के नाते, मैंने आज यह आदेश दिया है कि अब IAS और DANICS अधिकारियों के तबादले व पोस्टिंग CM @ArvindKejriwal के ही approval से होंगे"- @msisodia pic.twitter.com/oDvHxG0w4l

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) July 4, 2018

5:00 PM IST

Delhi cabinet meeting ends

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia holds a press conference at Delhi Secretariat after the cabinet meeting ends. He says the Delhi Lieutenant Governor obstructed work by the AAP-led Delhi government.

1:55 PM IST

Will people of Delhi forgive BJP: AAP

“Can Modiji revoke 3 years 5 months of chaos in Delhi? Will Delhi people forgive BJP for ruining 3 years 5 months (sic)?,” AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj asks in a tweet.

1:37 PM IST

AAP should stop demanding for full statehood: BJP

Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said the verdict has “decided” that Delhi is a Union Territory and the AAP should stop raising their “political demand” for full statehood to the city.

“It is now decided that Delhi is a UT. So, the AAP and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should stop raising the full statehood demand.”

1:36 PM IST

SC has directed Delhi govt to follow law: BJP

BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said the Supreme Court verdict has directed the AAP government to follow the law.

“We welcome the SC verdict. The Delhi government should have been following the law even without the order of the court. We hope, they will do so after the judgement,” he said.

1:23 PM IST

The push for full statehood will continue, says Manish Sisodia

The push for full statehood will continue, says Manish Sisodia

12:34 PM IST

Celebrations at Aam Aadmi Party office in Delhi

Centre and Delhi Government power tussle verdict in Supreme Court: Celebrations at Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) office in Delhi pic.twitter.com/Fw8ElZD2QV

— ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2018

12:26 PM IST

How is Delhi govt claiming SC verdict as victory: BJP

“Don’t understand how Delhi government is claiming this to be a victory.Their main plank was that this is a state whereas the court has unequivocally said it is not a state.They said they had exclusive executive control that was rejected too.This is a Union Territory, Centre has a role to play, says BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli.

12:14 PM IST

SC right in saying L-G must respect Delhi Cabinet decisions: Swamy

“Yes, what SC said is correct that L-G must respect Delhi cabinet decisions, but if any anti-national security or anti-constitutional decision is taken,which they are capable of taking, as they are Naxalite-type people, then L-G can oppose,” says BJP MP Subramanian Swamy.

12:11 PM IST

Kejriwal calls Cabinet meeting to discuss stalled projects

Delhi chief minister has called a Cabinet meeting at 4 pm today.

Called a meeting of all Cabinet Ministers at 4 pm at my residence to discuss critical projects of public importance which were blocked so far.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 4, 2018

11:59 AM IST

SC made it clear land, police not under Delhi govt: AAP leader

“Supreme Court has made it clear that land, police, and law and order will not be under the (state) government. Aside from these three areas, the transfer of bureaucrats and other powers will now be under the Delhi government,” AAP leader Raghav Chadha tells ANI.

Government of Delhi has been restored.

Democracy in Delhi has been restored.

Democratic rights of people of Delhi have been restored.

Thank you, SC.

— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) July 4, 2018

11:44 AM IST

Good verdict by Supreme Court: Soli Sorabjee

“It’s a good verdict by Supreme Court. L-G and Delhi government have to work harmoniously, can’t always have confrontation. Daily squabbles are not good for democracy. I welcome the decision,” former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee tells ANI.

11:39 AM IST

If Delhi govt and L-G don’t work together, city will face problems: Sheila Dikshit

“I think what the Supreme Court has said is very clear. As per Article 239 (AA) of the Constitution, Delhi is not a state,it is a Union Territory. If Delhi government and L-G don’t work together then Delhi will face problems. Congress ruled Delhi for 15 years, no conflict took place then,” says former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit.

11:35 AM IST

Landmark judgement, now work will not be stalled: Sisodia

“It’s a landmark judgement by Supreme Court. Now Delhi government will not have to send their files to L-G for approval, now work will not be stalled. I thank the Supreme Court, it’s a big win for democracy,” says Manish Sisodia,Delhi deputy chief minister.

11:30 AM IST

Big victory for people of Delhi: Kejriwal

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweets on the Supreme Court verdict.

A big victory for the people of Delhi...a big victory for democracy...

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 4, 2018

11:27 AM IST

SC refers to individual petitions

Supreme Court now refers individual petitions related to the disputes that arose between Centre and Delhi government to a regular bench, which shall take a decision on the basis of the Constitution bench judgement.

11:25 AM IST

Not necessary to obtain L-G’s concurrence on all decisions: SC

Purpose of communication of all decisions to L-G is necessary to inform him and not obtain his concurrence. Persons on high positions must discharge their duties faithfully for smooth functioning of administration, says SC.

11:22 AM IST

L-G’s exclusive power not to be exercised routinely: SC

Aid and advice given by council of ministers is binding on L-G unless he decides to exercise his special power. But the opinion has to be respected. Exclusive power needs to be exercised in exceptional circumstances and not on a routine manner, says Supreme Court.

11:17 AM IST

L-G must remember elected govt answerable to people: SC

L-G must remember the elected government is answerable to the people. Governance will come to a standstill if every decision is referred to the President, says Supreme Court.

11:15 AM IST

L-G has no independent authority to take decisions: SC

L-G has no independent authority to take decisions except where he acts as a quasi-judicial or judicial authority, says Supreme Court.

11:13 AM IST

Role of L-G not to supplant Constitution but to make it workable: SC

Aid and advice of the council of ministers under the constitution had to be construed as L-G is bound. The role of L-G is not to supplant the constitution but to make it workable, says Supreme Court.

11:10 AM IST

L-G has no independent decision-making powers: SC

L-G has no independent decision-making powers. He is bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers , says Supreme Court.

11:07 AM IST

Neither the state nor the L-G should feel they are lionised: SC

Neither the state nor the L-G should feel they are lionised. They must realise they are serving Constitutional obligations, says Supreme Court.

Authority in power and constitutional functionaries must realise they are for the administration and welfare of the people, says SC.

11:05 AM IST

Delhi govt cannot make laws on issues exclusively with Parliament: SC

Parliament can make laws on subjects in the concurrent list. However, the Delhi government cannot make laws on the issues that are exclusively with the parliament, says SC.

11:01 AM IST

L-G must not mechanically refer every matter to president: SC

“L-G must not mechanically refer every matter to the president. Must apply his mind before doing so. Respect needs to be given to the representative government. L-G can make a reference to the president only on exceptional cases. It cannot be a general rule,” says SC.

The Supreme Court says L-G has to respect the democratically elected government.

10:59 AM IST

L-G must work harmoniously with state: CJI

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra says, “The L-G must work harmoniously with the state, the L-G and council of ministers have to be constantly aligned.”

10:57 AM IST

Status of L-G not that of Governor of a state: SC

Under the present Constitutional scheme, NCT Delhi can’t be state. Status of L-G not that of Governor of a state, says Supreme Court.

10:55 AM IST

L-G is administrative head, should not act as obstructionist: SC

“The L-G is the administrative head, doesn’t mean he should act as an obstructionist. Being an administrative head the L-G needs to be informed about all the decisions taken by the council of ministers. But that doesn’t mean his concurrence is required,” says Supreme Court.

10:49 AM IST

Delhi cannot be given the status of state: SC

CJI Dipak Misra says Delhi cannot be given the status of a state in view of an earlier nine-judge judgment.

10:47 AM IST

Obeying Constitution is everybody’s duty : CJI

While reading out the judgement, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra says, “Obeying the Constitution is everybody’s duty and responsibility”