After the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Delhi government, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said thanked the top court and said the pace of development in the national capital will increase manifold now. The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Delhi government had legislative and executive power over "services", including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), except law and order and land. In a unanimous verdict, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) was bound by the decision of Delhi government over services apart from public order, police and land.
Kejriwal tweeted, "Heartfelt thanks to the Hon'ble Supreme Court for doing justice to the people of Delhi. With this decision, the pace of development of Delhi will increase manifold."
The petition filed by the Delhi government came as a result of a split verdict of February 14, 2019, in which a two-judge bench of Justices A K Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, both now retired, recommended to the Chief Justice that a three-judge bench be set up to decide the issue of control of services in the national capital.
While Justice Bhushan had ruled that Delhi government had no power at all over the administrative services, Justice Sikri had said the transfer or posting of officers in the top echelons of the bureaucracy (joint director and above) can only be done by the Centre and the lieutenant governor's view will prevail in case of a difference of opinion on matters related to the other bureaucrats.
In a verdict in 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench had unanimously ruled that the Delhi LG was bound by the aid and advice of the elected government, and both needed to work harmoniously with each other.