AAP govt wants urgent hearing on appeals, says piquant situation in Delhi

The AAP government on Monday sought an urgent hearing on its appeals challenging the Delhi High Court judgement declaring the lieutenant governor (L-G) as the administrative head of the Capital.

The AAP government on Monday sought an urgent hearing on its appeals challenging the Delhi High Court judgement declaring the lieutenant governor (L-G) as the administrative head of the Capital.

Relations between L-G Najeeb Jung and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal have hit rock bottom.

The government complained that the verdict had given rise to a piquant situation.

A bench headed by chief justice TS Thakur agreed to list six appeals against the September 9 order after senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the Delhi government, requested for an urgent hearing.

“A piquant situation has emerged in Delhi due to the Delhi high court’s August 4 judgement, which had held that all decisions of the elected government have to get prior approval of the L-G,” Subramaniam told the bench. He said the verdict had created an impression that all bureaucrats were required to report only to the L-G.

In a fresh application, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government urged the top court to make the L-G a party to the case.

The government said the L-G had been issuing orders, which were affecting day-to-day administration. The L-G was yet to be heard.

The high court had on August 4 said concurrence of the L-G in administrative issues was “mandatory.”

The court did not accept the AAP government’s contention that the L-G was bound to act only on the aid and advice of the chief minister and his council of ministers with regard to making of laws by the legislative assembly .

The court rejected all contentions of the Delhi government but agreed that the L-G would have to act on its aid and advice in the appointment of special public prosecutors.