NEW DELHI: A Supreme Court bench comprising justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan on Thursday differed on who would have the power to post and transfer bureaucrats, the Anti-Corruption Bureau and appointment of inquiry commissions etc in Delhi. The two top judges of the top court – Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan – gave a split verdict on the jurisdiction of Centre or Delhi government over appointment and transfer of bureaucrats in Delhi.
One of the two top judges dealing with the issue said that the Delhi govrnment has all powers, except on matters related to land and policing.
Justice AK Sikri held that transfers or posting of Joint Secretary and officers of above rank are in the domain of the LG while other officers fall under Delhi Government.
However, in case of difference of opinion, the view of Delhi LG will prevail. The Anti Corruption Bureau will come under the LG, Justice Sikri said in his order.
Justice Sikri further held that Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) can appoint public prosecutors. The Commission of Inquiry will come under the LG while the Electricity Board will come under the control of Delhi government, Justice Sikri ruled.
Justice Ashok Bhushan, however, dissented from Justice Sikri on the issue of ‘Services’ and said all the officers fall under the domain of the Central government.
The two judges, however, unanimously held that the Centre has the power to set up an Inquiry Commission.
The Supreme Court then referred the issue to a larger bench to decide whether the Delhi government or Lieutenant Governor should have jurisdiction over ‘Services’ in Delhi.
With the top court apparently favouring Centre over the Delhi government in the most of the contentious issues, today’s ruling is being viewed as a big setback for the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government.
The top court passed its verdict while responding on a batch of petitions challenging various notifications including control of services and power of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in what had triggered a war of words between the Delhi government and the Centre.
The bench had on November 1 last year reserved its verdict on the petitions challenging the notifications issued by the Centre and the Delhi government.
During the previous hearings, the Centre had told the apex court that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) has the power to regulate services in Delhi.
The powers are delegated to the administrator of Delhi and the services can be administered through him, it had said.
The Centre also said that unless the President of India expressly directs, the LG, who is the administrator of Delhi, cannot consult the Chief Minister or the Council of Ministers.
