New Delhi: Soon after the Supreme Court delivered its verdict in a drawn-out tussle for power between the Delhi government and the Centre, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday expressed gratitude to the top court and said that "democracy won" following the judgment.
In a huge win for the AAP government, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud asserted that an elected government needs to have control over the administration.
दिल्ली के लोगों के साथ न्याय करने के लिए माननीय सुप्रीम कोर्ट का तहे दिल से शुक्रिया। इस निर्णय से दिल्ली के विकास की गति कई गुना बढ़ेगी।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 11, 2023
जनतंत्र की जीत हुई।
Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal said that the pace of development in Delhi will increase manifold with this decision.
"Heartfelt thanks to the Hon'ble Supreme Court for doing justice to the people of Delhi. With this decision, the pace of development of Delhi will increase manifold. Democracy won," Kejriwal tweeted.
A Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, in a unanimous verdict, said that the Delhi government must have control over services, and the Lieutenant Governor is bound by its decision.
The court said that the Delhi government similar to other States is the representative form of government and any further expansion of the Union's power will be contrary to the Constitutional scheme.
A five-judge Constitution bench of CJI Chandrachud and Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha pronounced the judgment on Thursday.
Supreme Court held that if administrative services are excluded from the legislative and executive domains, the ministers would be excluded from controlling the civil servants who are to implement the executive decisions.
It said that states too have the power but the executive power of the State will be subject to the law existing of the Union. It has to be ensured that the governance of States is not taken over by the Union.
The five-judge bench had reserved its judgment on January 18 this year. (with Agency inputs)
