On Monday, July 10 in New Delhi, the Supreme Court requested a response from the Central Government about a petition filed by the Delhi government challenging the validity of the ordinance enacted by it on control of services in the nation’s capital.
The Lt. Governor of Delhi was ordered to be brought into the case by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha.
“We are giving warning. Allow for a two-week return period. Let the suit be revised to include the LG of Delhi as a respondent, it requested.
The apex court has said that it would hear arguments on the temporary stay on the ordinance and the LG’s decision to fire more than 400 consultants hired by the Delhi government on July 17.
On Monday, the AAP-led Delhi government’s appeal to the Supreme Court was denied without any temporary respite being granted.
The Delhi government’s Services Department issued an order stopping the hiring of advisers, fellows, and consultants earlier on Wednesday.According to the directive, the Lt. Governor’s consent is now required for any appointment.
The National Capital Civil Service Authority, responsible for the transfer and posting of Group-A officials in Delhi, was established by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, which the Central Government enacted on May 19. The Ordinance was introduced when the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench ruled that the elected government of Delhi should have authority over all services save for the police, public order, and land. Afterwards, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration in Delhi challenged the Ordinance’s validity before the Supreme Court, arguing that it was both unconstitutional and arbitrary, as it ran counter to the federal, democratic governance model enshrined for the NCTD in Article 239AA.
The Centre also appealed the May 11 ruling to the Supreme Court on May 20.
