AAP govt releases full page ads, accuses Centre of making Delhi suffer

AAP had moved the high court a year ago, challenging a central notification that had declared that Kejriwal’s authority in Delhi was limited and that he has no say in the appointment of bureaucrats.

The Supreme Court has ordered the Delhi government to approach it only after the Delhi High Court has decided all issues, including the preliminary issues.

Making it clear that bench would not entertain repeated pleas that the high court be asked to decide the preliminary issue of jurisdiction first before taking up other issues, Justice Misra said: “We must respect High Courts”.

She also said that because the Union of India was a petitioner in one case she could not have withdrawn the other petition that was filed by the Delhi Government.

Two judges of the Supreme Court, justices J.S. Khekar and Nageswara Rao, had earlier recused themselves from hearing the matter.

In a set-back to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court reserving its order on the dispute between the central and state governments on the administration of the national capital.

The AAP government and the Centre have been locked horns over governance in Delhi for most of the party’s tenure, leading to the ruling party seeking the apex court’s intervention.

“Had it been a (civil) suit or a writ petition, we will have issued notice instantly”. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi opposed the petition of the Delhi government and called it “completely misconceived”.

The dispute concerning the powers of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi had been heard by the High Court, which had reserved its judgment in the case. “But this is an SLP against an order reserving judgment”.

In its appeal, the city government alleged that its power to do public services in the state has been adversely affected.

Sisodia on Tuesday accused the Centre of wanting to run a parallel government in Delhi, and termed it a conspiracy.

A total of 11 cases arising out of the confrontation between the LG and Delhi government are being heard together by the high court.