‘Hope it reaffirms federal structure’: Mahua Moitra on Delhi govt vs Centre SC verdict

In a unanimous verdict, the Supreme Court ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over services.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Thursday said that Supreme Court's verdict on the Centre-Delhi services row was “loud and clear”, and that she hopes it would “reaffirm the federal structure and stop non-elected chairs from grabbing power.”

TMC MP Mahua Moitra. (PTI)

“The LG who represents Centre in Delhi, is bound by the decision of the elected government on services and by the aid and advice of the council of ministers”. SC verdict loud & clear," she wrote on Twitter.

In a unanimous verdict - that is seen as a big win for AAP in its tussle for power with the Centre - the Supreme Court ruled that the Delhi government has legislative and executive powers over services.

A constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said that in a democratic form of government, the real power of administration must rest with the elected government. The bench also refused to agree with the 2019 judgment of Justice Ashok Bhushan that the city government has no power over the issue of services.

“Further expansion of the Union's power will be contrary to the Constitutional scheme...Delhi is similar to other states and has a representative form of government,” the top court said in its verdict.

Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal extended his gratitude towards SC for delivering ‘justice’. “Heartfelt thanks to the Hon'ble Supreme Court for doing justice to the people of Delhi. With this decision, the pace of development of Delhi will increase manifold. Democracy won,” he wrote on Twitter.