A day after the Delhi High Court ruled that the lieutenant-Governor was the boss of Delhi administration, the Arvind Kejriwal Government knocked at the door of the Supreme Court on Friday. The court agreed to hear the State Government’s challenge to the High court order and plea for granting full Statehood to Delhi.
Appearing for Delhi in the suit proceeding before a Bench of Justices AK Sikri and NV Ramana, senior advocate Indira Jaising submitted that irrespective of the Delhi High Court verdict, the suit requires to be heard. The Judges remarked, “Whether the High Court (of Delhi) has decided
the issue rightly or wrongly would be decided by the Supreme Court in a Special leave Petition (SlP). What is the use of duplicating the proceedings in this suitIJ”
Jaising argued the High Court order has come at a time when the suit is still pending. She said that unless it is decided whether Delhi is a full State or not, the High Court cannot determine a dispute arising between the Delhi Government and the Centre. If the Delhi Government succeeds in the suit, then the dispute will be “federal” in nature to which only the Supreme Court will have jurisdiction to hear and decide.
The AAP Government said it will be challenging the HC decision within a week and requested the Bench to hear the appeal along with the pending suit. The court fixed the hearing of the two matters on August 29.