Power to appoint NDMC Vice Chairman lies with Centre: HC told

The Centre today defended in the Delhi High Court its decision to appoint BJP leader Karan Singh Tanwar as Vice Chairman (VC) of New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), saying power to nominate a person for this post fully vests with it and they have followed all due procedures.
The submission on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs was made before Justice V P Vaish who was also informed that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was given sufficient time to offer his views on the nomination of Tanwar but he failed to give his views.
"The power to nominate a person as member under section 4(1)(d) and also as Vice Chairperson under section 4(4) of the said Act (New Delhi Municipal Council) fully vests in the central government...

"The Chief Minister of Delhi was given sufficient time to offer his views on the nomination...But he failed to give his views and accordingly, after having waited for long period (27 days), the notification (with regard to appointment of Tanwar as VC) was issued. It is respectfully reiterated that there is no requirement for concurrence in this behalf," central government standing counsel Anil Soni, appearing for MHA, said.
Soni, who was assisted by advocate Nagender Benipal, also stated that there is no non-adherence much less any violation of any of the Act.
They said that the petition by AAP MLA Surender Singh "is neither maintainable nor does it have any merit and deserves to be rejected at the threshold by the orders of this court".

Singh has moved the court challenging the Centre's July 8 notification appointing Tanwar as NDMC Vice Chairman and has sought cancellation of his appointment.