Supreme Court Clips Wings of Delhi Lt Governor

After Supreme Court verdict, it’s time for Delhi Lt Governor and CM to work together.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today clipped the wings of Delhi Lieutenant Governor saying he has  no independent decision-making power and he cannot act as an obstructionist.

Delivering the much-awaited verdict on the ongoing power tussle in the national capital, Chief Justice Dipak Misra said that obeying the constitution is everybody’s duty and responsibility.

Delhi has suffered because of a constant tussle for power between the Lt Governor and the Chief Minster. Now that the Supreme Court has clarified the situation, it is time for Lt Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to bury their inflated ego and the past and work together.

Here is what the Court said today:

*Real power must lie with the elected government in a democracy. The State should enjoy freedom, unsolicited interference. Popular will can’t be allowed lose its purpose.

*The Lieutenant Governor hasn’t been entrusted with independent decision-making power. The Lieutenant Governor is an administrator in a limited sense and is not the Governor. He is bound by the advice of the cabinet in matters other than those exempted.

*The Lieutenant Governor must act harmoniously with the Delhi government. All decisions of the Council of Ministers must be communicated to the Lieutenant Governor, but that doesn’t mean concurrence of the LG is required.

*Difference of opinion between the cabinet and the Lieutenant Governor should not be obstructive. The LG can refer issues on difference of opinion to the President only in exceptional matters and not as a general rule.

*Obeying the Constitution is everybody’s duty and responsibility. The relationship between the Centre and the state government should be healthy. and Lt  gnow clac

The chief justice also said that the L-G and council of ministers have to be constantly aligned.

The verdict came after a clutch of petitions filed by the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government challenging the Delhi High Court’s order holding the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) as the administrative head of the national capital.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by the chief justice, which had commenced hearing in the matter on November 2, 2017, had reserved its verdict on December 6, 2017.