SC issues notice to Centre, LG in AAP v BJP ordinance row

The Supreme Court issued a notice to the center on Monday to answer to a Delhi government case seeking to overturn a contentious legislation that puts the Bharatiya Janata Party in power at the center control over bureaucrats and government services in the city.

A panel of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha scheduled a new hearing for next Monday. The court also authorized Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena to be declared a party and issued a notice requesting his answer to the Delhi government’s plea, which is run by the Aam Aadmi Party.

In addition to seeking to overturn the legislation, the Delhi administration requested a delay. The Delhi administration, represented by prominent counsel Abhishek Singhvi, lambasted the ‘unconstitutional exercise of executive fiat’ in their petition. The Delhi administration also claimed an attempt to ‘override’ the Supreme Court and accused the Centre of violating constitutional foundations.

In May, the central government issued a law establishing an autonomous authority for the transfer and posting of top civil service officers in the city-state.

The AAP slammed the move, which came only days after the Supreme Court ruled that the elected AAP government should have legislative and executive control over administrative services in the national capital, with the exception of those connected to land, law and public order, and police.