Setback for Delhi Govt. as SC refuses to entertain petition on ambit of power

In a massive setback for the Aam Admi party-led government, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain its petition on interpretation of powers of Delhi Goverment vis a vis Centre.

During the hearing, the Apex Court stated that the High Court has already reserved its judgement on the matter.

Rebuking the state government, the court said that they should have withdrawn their plea in the Delhi High Court before approaching the SC.

The bench headed by justice Dipak Misra stated that all High Court's have their own independence under the Constitution to decide the matter.

"Why should we ask Delhi HC to decide only on jurisdiction and not on the merit on the case," Misra said.

Earlier, the Kejriwal government had said the HC did not have jurisdiction to adjudicate a dispute between a state and the Centre, contending that the matter fell squarely within the SC's purview.

In its petition, the AAP government alleged that it is unable to function as the Lieutenant Governor, at the behest of the Centre, either annuls or changes its decisions on the ground that Delhi is not a complete state.

The AAP government and Centre have been locking their horns over governance in Delhi for most of the party's tenure, leading to the ruling party seeking the apex court's intervention in resolving the matter.