HC sets aside its order restraining Centre from making appointments to NDMC

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday set aside its single-judge order restraining the Centre from making appointments to the New Delhi Municipal Council.

The July 26 interim order of the single judge had come on an application by AAP legislator Surender Singh seeking that no appointments be made to the council without holding proper consultations with Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar set aside the interim order and sent the matter back to the single judge to decide the issue regarding the manner of consultation before the appointments are made.

It allowed the appeal moved by the Centre against the July 26 order and listed the matter before the single judge on August 13.

The Centre, in its appeal, had contended that the relief granted by the single judge was not sought by the AAP MLA in his application which had only sought an early hearing of the main petition challenging the appointments made in the council in 2015.

The petition has claimed that the appointments were made without consulting the chief minister, while the Central government has contended that the file was sent to Kejriwal but he did not send his comments within the stipulated time.

The Centre in its appeal had contended that the July 26 order was passed without recording reasons and without giving it the opportunity to file its response.