Kejriwal Govt Moves Supreme Court Over Centre's Ordinance On Control Of Services In Delhi

The Centre's ordinance reverses the effect of Supreme Court verdict that gave the Delhi government power over administrative services in the national capital.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government moved the Supreme Court on Friday over the Centre's ordinance that reversed the effect of Supreme Court verdict that gave the local government power over administrative services, ANI reported. In its petition, the Delhi government stated that the Centre's ordinance was "unconstitutional and it should be immediately put on hold".

AAP has accused the Centre of trying to take "illegal" control of Delhi through the "black ordinance" and even staged nationwide protests last month.

After the Supreme Court ruled in May that the Delhi government had executive power over "services", including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), the Centre brought an ordinance making the Lieutenant Governor the final arbiter in the matter.

READ | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal To Burn Copies Of Centre's Ordinance At AAP Office

A 'National Capital Service Authority' was established to make recommendations to the Delhi Lieutenant Governor regarding matters concerning transfer posting, vigilance and other incidental matters.

The body will comprise of the Delhi Chief Minister, Chief Secretary and Home Secretary of Delhi government. "Provided also that in case of difference of opinion, the decision of the Lieutenant Governor shall be final," the order read.

Transfer and postings of all officers of the Delhi government were under the executive control of the Lieutenant Governor before the May 11 verdict of the Supreme Court.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has been seeking the support of various political parties to get the legislation blocked if the Centre tables a bill to replace the ordinance in Parliament.

Earlier in the day, addressing a press conference, AAP chief spokesperson and minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said Kejriwal would burn copies of the Centre's ordinance at the party office on July 3.

He said copies of the ordinance would also be burned across the 70 assembly constituencies of the Delhi.

"On July 3, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, cabinet ministers and all the MLAs will burn copies of the black ordinance at the ITO party office," PTI quoted him as saying.

"Then on July 5, the copies of the ordinance will be burned across all 70 parliamentary constituencies. Between July 6 and July 13, the copies of the ordinance will be set on fire at every nook and corner of Delhi. The seven vice presidents will ensure that they are burned in every area of Delhi," Bhardwaj further said.