The Union home ministry has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court against the Delhi government's decision to approach the apex court against the Delhi High Court order declaring the Lieutenant Governor as the administrator of the national capital territory of Delhi.
The MHA's caveat says that the SC should not pass any order without listening to the MHA in the case, top sources said. The fresh move of the MHA has toughened the stance of the centre and is unlikely to give any reprieve to the bitter standoff between the centre and Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government on the issue.
On Thursday, the Delhi High Court had cleared the air that Delhi is a Union territory with the LG as its administrator and not a state. The order was also being seen as a blow to Kejriwal government's demand for full statehood for Delhi. "We fully respect the Delhi High Court but we have a constitutional right to disagree with their verdict and will approach the Supreme Court," Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia told the media.
The Delhi government, in its suit before the apex court, wants it to declare the boundaries of the constitutional relationship between it and the centre in administering the national capital. The suit alleged that the centre was encroaching Delhi government's administrative domain and the SC should now clearly define the powers of the LG, who represents the centre, so that one does not step on the other's feet.
Earlier, Sisodia had clarified that the tussle over the powers of the Delhi government was not a fight with the central government or the LG, Najeeb Jung. "This is about whether a government will be run by LG or elected representatives of the people," he had said.
