AAP Govt’s Plea On Delhi Ordinance: Supreme Court Issues Notice To Central Govt

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Central government about its stand on a petition filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government against the ordinance on control of services in the national Capital.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha also directed senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, counsel for Delhi government, to amend its petition and add the Lieutenant Governor as a party in the case.

The AAP government said in its petition the Centre’s ordinance was an “unconstitutional exercise of executive fiat” that attempted to “override” the Supreme Court and basic structure of the Constitution.

The Delhi government sought quashing of the ordinance, and wanted an interim stay on it.

A stay on the termination of engagements of 400 specialists working with Delhi government was also sought, but Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta argued that spouses of MLAs and AAP party workers had been employed to the posts.

The next hearing will be on July 17.

Days after Supreme Court allowed the elected government control of services, excluding those related to police, public order and land, the Union government brought an ordinance on May 19 to curtail the powers of Delhi government.

Arvind Kejriwal said the ordinance will destroy federal structure of the country.

He has been meeting non-BJP parties to garner support against the Delhi ordinance.