SC refuses to interfere with HC on Centre-Delhi government dispute

In a set-back to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere with the Delhi High Court reserving its order on the dispute between the Centre and the Delhi government on the administration of the national capital.

Noting that it was Delhi government which had approached the High Court on its tussle with the Centre, an apex court bench of Justice Dipak Misra and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit said that the High Court must be respected and left to decide the matter.

"In our considered opinion when the High Court has heard the matter and reserves the order on all the issues including the preliminary issue, it is advisable that the High Court should pronounce the judgment. Then it is open to the petitioner to approach this Court if required," said the bench in its order declining the plea by the Delhi government.

The Delhi government had approached the apex court to question the Delhi High Court reserving its order on its batch of petitions challenging the Centre for overruling a number of its decisions, including a spat on the appointment of the head of the Anti-Corruption Branch.