Supreme Court rules in favour of elected government in Delhi-Centre power tussle

The Supreme Court has delivered a unanimous verdict on the long-standing power tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre. The apex court has ruled that real power must stay with the elected government, and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi cannot interfere in every decision made by the government.

The verdict has brought an end to the bitter feud between the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government and the Centre, which had been at loggerheads over several issues since the party came to power in Delhi in 2015.

The case had revolved around the interpretation of Article 239AA of the Constitution, which grants special status to the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT) and provides for a separate elected government. The Centre had argued that the LG had the power to overrule every decision made by the elected government, while the Delhi government had claimed that the LG could only exercise this power in exceptional circumstances.

The Supreme Court’s verdict has now clarified the position, stating that the LG can only intervene in matters of national security and public order, and must otherwise act on the advice of the elected government.

The verdict has been hailed as a victory for democracy and the people of Delhi, who had been caught in the crossfire between the two sides. The ruling is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the Kejriwal government, which had been facing severe opposition from the Centre on several fronts, including the issue of statehood for Delhi.

The verdict is also likely to have wider implications for the functioning of elected governments in other Union Territories and states, and could potentially alter the balance of power between elected governments and the Centre.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s unanimous verdict on the Delhi-Centre power tussle is a significant milestone in the state’s political history. The verdict has brought clarity on the distribution of powers between the elected government and the LG, and is expected to have far-reaching implications for the functioning of elected governments in other states and Union Territories. The ruling is being seen as a victory for democracy and a step towards a more transparent and accountable system of governance in the country.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *