The central government counsel told the top court that the affidavit was shared with the media even before it was filed.
The Supreme Court of India refuses to seek a reply from the Union Government on Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s affidavit. “Mr Sisodia’s last-minute attempt to bring political matters to the court is unnecessary,” said the bench, which included Chief Justice of India Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli. “The court will not enter into this dispute. The court will not ask the central government to file a reply.”
The court said that the Constitution Bench will decide the constitutional issue relating to ‘service’ dispute between the Delhi Government and Union Government, and the matter will be heard on November 24.
On Friday, Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi mentioned the matter before the Supreme Court and highlighted the paralysis in administration in the national capital due to non-cooperation by bureaucrats with the AAP government.
On this, the Central government’s counsel blamed the Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government for leaking the affidavit filed by Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia to the press before it was filed in the Supreme Court.
Central government counsel said, “This is a very incorrect practice. This affidavit shows political propaganda and was shared with the press earlier than it was filed,” the lawyer said.
A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli said that it will not allow any further filings in the case. “We will not ask for a reply now otherwise, people will start filing affidavits till last date. We will freeze the pleadings now and let the Constitution bench take up the matter now. As of now, the union government is not required to file a response to the affidavit.” The case was slated to be heard by a Constitution bench of the Supreme Court after a 3-judge bench in May this year decided to send it to a larger bench on a request by the central government.
