In a significant victory for the Delhi government, the Supreme Court has upheld its authority over land, police and law, stating that the Centre cannot take over governance in the national capital. The judgement, delivered on Wednesday, ended a long-standing dispute between the Delhi government and the Centre over the division of powers.
The apex court’s ruling clarifies that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi (LG) is bound by the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers of the Delhi government on matters on which the Legislative Assembly has power to legislate. The judgement also states that the LG cannot act independently and must follow the Delhi government’s decisions in all matters, except for issues related to land, police and law, where the Centre has the final say.
The dispute between the Delhi government and the Centre over the division of powers has been ongoing for several years, with the former arguing that it has the power to make decisions on issues such as education, healthcare, transport and housing. The Centre, on the other hand, has claimed that the LG has the final say on all matters, and that the Delhi government cannot take independent decisions.
The Supreme Court’s judgement is seen as a major victory for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who has been fighting for the Delhi government’s autonomy for years. Kejriwal welcomed the verdict, calling it a “big victory” for the people of Delhi.
The judgement is expected to have far-reaching implications for the governance of Delhi, and may lead to a more cooperative relationship between the Delhi government and the Centre.
