Live: Supreme Court limits Delhi LG’s role; “big victory” says Kejriwal
The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce on Wednesday, July 3 it verdict over who—the Centre or the elected Delhi government—controls the reins of power to administer the national capital
Senior counsel for the Delhi Government, Rajeev Dhawan: "Democracy has triumphed. Delhi government was not created by a statute, bu by the constitution itself which gave it a full Parliamentary democracy except in areas of public order, police and land. The LG had no right whatsoever to interfere in the decisions of the elected government. Both Najeeb Jung and Anil Baijal were clearly in excess of their Constitutional authority."
BJP National Vice President Shyam Jaju: "The court said that cohesion for development in democracy is urgently needed; Arvind Kejriwal needs to understand this"
BJP Leader of Opposition in Delhi Vijender Gupta: "Supreme Court has commented on Delhi government's anarchist methods. The Aam Aadmi Party must introspect"
Delhi Mahila Congress President Sharmistha Mukherjee: "SC verdict reiterates Constitutional provisions governing Delhi and clarifies ambiguities. Hopefully now the blame game politics will stop and various agencies will concentrate on what they are meant to do"
Supreme Court verdict: Celebrations at Aam Aadmi Party office in Delhi; reports ANI News
Senior advocate Indira Jaising: "I hope every politician in the country reads all three judgements, had it come two weeks earlier, the CM of Delhi would not have to sleep on a sofa at the LG’s residence waiting for an appointment"
BJP leader N Kohli, "Don't understand how Delhi govt is claiming this to be a victory. Their main plank was that this is a state whereas Court has unequivocally said its not a state. This is a UT, Centre has a role to play"
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi: "In principle, good judgement for Delhi, irrespective of politics or governments. Why should LG act beyond three reserved powers"
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal calls meeting of all Cabinet Ministers "at 4 pm at my residence to discuss critical projects of public importance which were blocked so far"
CPI(M) Gen Sec Sitaram Yechury: "Role of LGs and Governors and their misuse has been brought into sharp focus by today’s judgement. LGs/Governors cannot usurp rights of an elected state government"
Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia: "On behalf of people of Delhi I thank the hon'ble Supreme Court wholeheartedly. The people's chosen government can now take decisions for the people of Delhi"
Former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit "If Delhi Govt and LG don't work together then Delhi will face problems. Congress ruled Delhi for 15 years, no conflict took place then"
"Now, since the Apex Court has clarified about the powers in Delhi, we hope that the development which has been stalled, ever since the Congress was voted out of power, 4 yrs ago-will start again" says Delhi Congress President Ajay Maken
"Arvind Kejriwal, now start following constitution and work for betterment of Delhiites" tweets Delhi BJP president and North East Delhi MP Manoj Tiwari
Movement for full statehood for Delhi to continue, says Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia
"Supreme Court has strengthened the pillar of democracy; The country will run as per the common man's vote, and not by the lathis of the Lat Saheb"; says AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh
"Landmark judgement. Now Delhi Govt will not have to send files to LG for approval, now work will not be stalled. I thank the SC, big win for democracy" says Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia; reports ANI News
SC decision makes its clear that elected government responsible for Delhi; what will be the reply of LG, Central Govt and PM Narendra Modi who created constitutional crisis in Delhi for past 3 years for political gains", asks Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Jayant Chaudhary
"It's a good verdict by Supreme Court. Daily squabbles are not good for democracy" says Soli Sorabjee, former Attorney General of India; reports ANI News
"A big victory for the people of Delhi...a big victory for democracy..." tweets Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal
"Today’s judgement has once again proved how CM Arvind Kejriwal has wasted last 3.5 years using excuse of full statehood to hide failures of his govt", says SAD National Spokesperson and Delhi MLA Manjinder A Sirsa
"Welcome vindication of the powers of an elected government in a federal framework" says CPI(ML) leader Dipankar Bhattacharya
"LG need to be only informed of NCT govt decision. No need of his concurrence" says Justice Ashok Bhushan; reports The Hindu
Five judge Bench holds that Delhi is not a State but 'special', nevertheless; reports The Hindi
Breaking: Supreme Court limits Delhi LG’s role; restores Delhi Govt’s powers
"Role of the LG is not to supplant the constitutional role of the NCT govt" says Justice DY Chandrachud; reports The Hindu
"LG should remember that it is not he but the elected govt who has substantive powers" says Justice DY Chandrachud; reports The Hindu
"This Constitutional Court would be doing disservice if an elected govt is reduced to a mere form without substance" says Justice DY Chandrachud; reports The Hindu
"LG has been rejecting all important decisions of Govt. CCTV, door step delivery of ration, Mohalla clinics rejected or delayed" tweets AAP Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj
"Elected representatives would be reduced to a cipher if 'any matter' in Art 239AA (4) is interpreted as every matter of governance" says Justice DY Chandrachud; reports The Hindu
"History should remind us how fragile liberty and democracy is... citizens should protect them": says Justice DY Chandrachud; reports The Hindu
AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon: "For three years @narendramodi has strangled democracy by using @LtGovDelhi to thwart and subvert the democratic rights of an elected government? Thank you SC for restoring democracy"
"Can Modi ji revoke 3 years 5 months of chaos in Delhi? Will Delhi people forgive BJP for ruining 3 years 5 months?" tweets AAP Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj
"Real authority to take decisions lie in the elected govt" says Justice DY Chandrachud; reports The Hindu
AAP quotes SC as saying "Delhi cabinet does not need concurrence of LG on its decisions"
LG and NCT govt to work harmoniously: CJI; reports The Hindu
SC: Delhi council of ministers need to "apprise" the LG of decisions. "Consultation does not mean concurrence"; reports ThePrint
"No room for absolutism and anarchy in our constitution": CJI
"LG can't interfere in every decision" "cannot act as an obstructionist in the policy decisions of the state govt": SC"
"LG can only refer differences of opinion under Art. 239AA (4) to Prez only in "exceptional matters". This is an exception not the general rule. He has to act in the spirit of constitutional trust and morality: CJI"; reports The Hindu
"Only three reserved subjects, police, land and public order with the Centre. All others under the domain of Delhi Govt" tweets Rahul Mehra, Standing Counsel (Criminal), Government of NCT of Delhi
"LG is an administrator in a limited sense and is not a Governor. Is bound by the aid and advice of the NCT govt in areas other than those exempted": CJI; reports The Hindu
"Government of Delhi has been restored. Democracy in Delhi has been restored" tweets AAP National Spokesperson and National Executive Member Raghav Chadha
"LG cannot without applying his mind refer every difference of opinion between him and Delhi govt to the Prez": CJI; reports The Hindu
"Decision of the Delhi govt need only to be communicated to LG, this does not mean LG's concurrence is required": CJI, AK Sikri and AM Khanwilkar in majority judgment of Constitution Bench; reports The Hindu
"LG cannot have difference of opinion on every matter with the council of ministers: SC"; says Aam Aadmi Party
Aam Aadmi Party says "Supreme Court curtails powers of Delhi LG"
"'Any matter' in Art 239AA (4) does not mean every matter": CJI; reports The Hindu
"Union has exclusive executive powers over land, police and public order. All other areas Delhi govt has power": CJI; reports The Hindu
AAP says "Breaking: Supreme Court of India restores Delhi elected Govt's powers"
"NCT of Delhi does not have the status of a 'State'. It is a class apart": Majority judgment by CJI; reports The Hindu
"Centre should not interfere in the domain of legislature of a state": SC constitution bench; reports Arvind Gunasekar
"LG is not same as a Governor of a state": SC Constitution bench; reports Arvind Gunasekar
"There should be a collective responsibility between state and centre", CJI, Justice AK Sikri and Khanwilkar; reports Arvind Gunasekar
CJI Dipak Misra has begun reading the judgment; reports Bar & Bench
"Judgment will decide the future and fate of 2.2 million Delhi citizens", said Rahul Mehra, Standing Counsel (Criminal), Government of NCT of Delhi
Centre contended that all executive powers to administer the national capital were vested in it through Lt Governor
On the other hand, the Centre contended that all executive powers to administer the national capital were vested in it and that it exercised the same through the Lt Governor.
The Centre told the court that the "aid and advice" by the elected Delhi government was not binding on the Lt Governor, as was the case with other states.
Delhi Government argued that constitutional provisions can be interpreted only to advance the goals of the Constitution
The Arvind Kejriwa-led Delhi government also contended that it was only in an emergency situation that the Lt Governor can refer to the President the matters on which there are differences of opinion between the Lt Governor and the elected government.
The Delhi government also argued that the constitutional provisions can be interpreted only to advance the goals of the Constitution and the people's democratic aspirations.
Who administers Delhi, LG or elected government, a contentious issue between the Centre and the AAP government
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government had moved the apex court to challenge a Delhi High Court verdict that held that the Lt Governor—appointed by the Union Government—held primacy over an elected government in the administration of Delhi.
Asserting that it had the executive powers on which it can aid and advice the Lt Governor, the Arvind Kejriwal government had contended that an elected government can't be treated subservient to an overriding authority of the Lt Governor.
Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra had reserved the verdict on December 6, 2017
A Constitution Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AK Sikri, Justice AM Khanwilkar, Justice DY Chandrachud, and Justice Ashok Bhushan had reserved the verdict on the contentious issue between the Centre and the AAP government on December 6 last year after hearing the matter for 15 days.
Supreme Court verdict on who administers Delhi on July 4
The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce on Wednesday it verdict over who—the Centre or the elected Delhi government—controls the reins of power to administer the national capital
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