'Disappointed' AAP to move SC against Delhi HC order

Delhi High Court said the Lieutenant Governor is not bound to act according to the advice of the Delhi Cabinet

Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, on Thursday expressed his disappointment with the Delhi High Court's decision declaring that Lieutenant Governor (LG) is the administrator of the National Capital Territory and hinted that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Government would now move the Supreme Court (SC).

"We respect the verdict, but are unsatisfied with the decision. We have been given the right by the Constitution to disagree on the verdict. There is the SC in the country. If someone is unsatisfied with the decision of high court they will go to the SC. We will put our points forward in the SC," Sisodia told a press conference in New Delhi.

 

He further said the fight is not between the Delhi Chief Minister and the LG, but between the government elected by the people and the selected government.

In a major setback to the AAP Government, the Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed its set of petitions on the legal tussle with the Centre over control of administrative issues and distribution of power in the national capital.

The AAP had filed a total of nine petitions in the Delhi High Court, contending that the power to make appointments and issue instructions did not rest with the LG, but with the Chief Minister.

The petitions had risen out of a series of clashes between the LG Najeeb Jung and the Delhi Government.

Pronouncing the verdict, the High Court said the Lieutenant Governor is not bound to act according to the advice of the Delhi Cabinet.

The Delhi High Court also said that the Lieutenant Governor is not bound by the Council of Ministers.

The Delhi High Court also held that no action can be taken by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) against the Central Government officials.

The AAP Government was told that it was wrong to set up inquiries into alleged scams involving the CNG fitness for buses and Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) without seeking the LG's approval.

The AAP Government had last year ordered an inquiry into the CNG fitness scam or the alleged corruption in contracts for fitness certificates issued to public buses that use CNG and said the LG along with the former chief minister Sheila Dikshit could be questioned.