After the announcement of the verdict by the Supreme Court on July 4, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi government and said, “If Modi govt. had not withdrawn the powers of elected govt. through illegal orders, precious three years would have been saved.”
The Supreme Court verdict has ended the tussle between the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal and the Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
“People of Delhi are grateful to judiciary. Today’s order reinforces people’s faith in judiciary,” Kejriwal added.
“Cabinet meeting held. Directed all functionaries of Delhi government to function according to the order of Hon’ble Supreme Court. Also directed to expedite proposals of doorstep delivery of rations and CCTV now,” Kejriwal tweeted.
While this was so, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor said, “The verdict had “decided” that Delhi is a Union Territory and the AAP should stop raising their “political demand” for full statehood to the city.”
Updates:
· SC in the verdict demarcates the powers and responsibility of both the LG and an elected government in Delhi. “Real power must lie with the elected government in a democracy. The state should enjoy freedom, unsolicited interference,” said Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.
· Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia held a press conference post verdict, and he declared that transfer of bureaucrats will now happen with the Chief Minister’s approval. Transfers and appointments of officials was one of the first points of tussle between AAP and the LG.
· “IAS officers required the Lieutenant Governor’s permission for posting. I have ordered that this will change. IAS officers, central services transfers will all happen based on Chief Minister’s approval,” deputy CM added after pronouncement of verdict.
· “The chief minister will meet P. Chidambaram in the evening to thank him. He was one of the lawyers who represented Delhi government in the Supreme Court,” an official said.
· While hailing the SC judgment Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy said, “I welcome the verdict, and it is totally applicable to the government of Puducherry, which is also a Union Territory. Whoever functions contrary to the judgment now delivered by the apex court would face serious action. I myself would file contempt petition against those failing to act in consonance with the Supreme Court verdict.”
· Sisodia added that service matters are now with the Delhi government. From now onwards there is also no need to send files to the LG, which led to an interference or delay before.
