The Centre has released a legal order detailing procedures regarding allocation, relocation, oversight, and affiliated topics concerning the administration of Delhi's National Capital Territory. The Centre's action is being perceived as a strategic move to gain authority over the services department of the Delhi government. It has only been a few days since the Delhi government was granted jurisdiction over the provision of services by the Supreme Court. 


Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal criticized the Centre's ordinance that reinstated the control of services to the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi on Saturday. He stated that his government would take the matter to the Supreme Court, making it a dispute between the judiciary and the Central government. During a press conference, the Delhi Chief Minister referred to the ordinance as being unconstitutional and anti-democratic. He also alleged that the ordinance brought to "overturn" SC verdict is a "direct contempt" of apex court, adding the Centre "wants to obstruct AAP government's work." 


Top Points



  • The BJP on Saturday stated that the recent ordinance implemented by the Centre, pertaining to the reshuffling and appointment of officials in Delhi, was introduced to promote “transparency and accountability,” news agency PTI reported.

  • Speaking with media, Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad stated: "We had to bring in ordinance because within a few days of Supreme Court judgement, Delhi government began flexing its muscles. It transferred IAS officer who was probing irregularities in Sheesh Mahal (Delhi CM's official residence)."

  • Delhi Minister Atishi has slammed PM Narendra Modi-led Central government for bringing an ordinance to give the control of 'services' back to LG days after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the AAP government in the national capital. Atishi said that PM Modi could not tolerate the fact that the top court 'empowered Arvind Kejriwal'. 

  • Delhi Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena on Friday sent a letter to Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister, accusing the AAP government of displaying unconstitutional audacity, intimidation, and non-compliance with regulations and procedures in the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling on service-related issues.

  • The ordinance reinstates the central government's authority over "services" through an extensive set of revisions made to the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) Act of 1991. By granting the Lieutenant Governor (LG) the power to use his "sole discretion" in matters related to the transfer and posting of bureaucrats, the decision has bolstered centre's position as the ultimate authority on the subject.

  • In a hearing between the Centre and the Delhi government regarding power distribution, a panel of constitutional judges led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud affirmed that a government chosen by the people should have oversight of the administration.

  • The decision was not in alignment with Justice Ashok Bhushan's ruling in 2019, which denied the city government's authority to control matters related to services. The group of judges consisting of M R Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli, and P S Narasimha stated that the basic structure of the Constitution includes democracy and a federal structure.

  • In 2019, Justice Bhushan had concluded that the Delhi government lacked any authority related to administrative services, whereas Justice Sikri drew a differentiation. He had stated that the Centre holds the authority to transfer or relocate officers in the upper ranks of the bureaucracy, with the lieutenant governor's perspective being decisive in the event of any disagreement about matters concerning other officials.