'Civil Servants Not Following Orders': Delhi Govt Seeks Urgent Supreme Court Hearing On Services Law

The Delhi government urged the Supreme Court to urgently list its plea challenging the validity of the law pertaining to control over services in the national capital.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and Lieutenant Governor of Delhi VK Saxena

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The AAP-led Delhi government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that civil servants in the city were not following the orders of the government and urged the top court to urgently list its plea challenging the validity of the law pertaining to control over services in the national capital.

The Supreme Court asked the Delhi government and Centre to prepare a compilation of the case in four weeks, ANI reported.

Senior advocate AM Singhvi, representing the Delhi government, said, "There is extraordinary urgency in this case. The civil servants are not following orders."

To this, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, "There are two seven judges benches next week and then there are couple of Constitution benches."   

"This matter should have priority over others since it has to be set straight some way or other," Singhvi replied.

Following this, the CJI asked the Delhi government and the Centre to complete all the written submissions and make a common compilation "so that the matter is ripe for hearing", Bar and Bench reported.

During the Monsoon session, Parliament cleared the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill 2023, also known as the Delhi Services Bill, amid a bitter tussle between the Centre and the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.

READ | Delhi Services Bill Passes Rajya Sabha Hurdle With 131 Votes As BJD, YRS Congress Back Legislation

The law, which replaced an ordinance that was promulgated by the Centre on May 19, reverses the effect of the Supreme Court verdict in May that gave the Delhi government power over administrative services.

The law makes the Delhi Lieutenant Governor the ultimate authority over Delhi government officers. The LG also has the authority to make appointments to all statutory boards and commissions in Delhi.

The Supreme Court had on July 20 referred the Delhi government's plea challenging the legislation to a five judge bench.

The top court had said that while Parliament had the power to limit Delhi government's control over bureaucracy, it needed to be examined whether it extended to extinguishing the jurisdiction of the Union Territory's elected government.