Supreme Court refuses to hear Aam Aadmi Party’s plea against Centre over power row in Delhi
The petitioner can approach the top court only after the Delhi High Court, which had reserved judgement in the matter, pronounces its verdict first, it said.
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to hear the Aam Aadmi Party’s petition regarding the Delhi government’s power in the national capital, ANI reported. The apex court said that the Delhi High Court had already reserved judgement on the matter. "Let the high court pronounce its judgement first, then the petitioner may approach," the Supreme Court bench said.
The petition had called for the correct interpretation of Article 239 AA of the Constitution, which grants Delhi special status as the National Capital Region under the nominal leadership of a lieutenant-governor.
The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to control the region. Delhi’s partial statehood gives the Centre control over land, the Delhi Police and other important matters. Lawyer Indira Jaising, who represented the Delhi government, had urged the apex court to come to a decision on granting Delhi statehood.
AAP had moved the high court last year, challenging a central notification that had declared that Kejriwal’s authority in Delhi was limited and that he has no say in the appointment of bureaucrats. The Centre had approached the Supreme Court after the high court deemed the notification “suspect”.