New Delhi: The Supreme Court delivered Thursday a split verdict on the contentious issue of control of services in the National Capital Territory in the tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre and referred the matter to a larger bench.
A two-judge bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, agreed on disputes pertaining to the anti-corruption branch, setting up of commission of inquiry, control over electricity boards, land revenue matters and appointment of public prosecutors.
The apex court also upheld the Centre’s notification that its employees cannot be probed in corruption cases by ACB of Delhi government.
The top court also said that instead of the Lieutenant Governor, the Delhi government will have the right to appoint public prosecutors or law officers.
Meanwhile criticising the Supreme Court decision, Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said it was unfortunate that there was no clarity in the judgement.
People of Delhi will continue to suffer, AAP spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told reporters after the Supreme Court referred the issue of clarity on division of powers between the Delhi government and the Centre to a larger bench.
Meanwhile the Delhi unit of the BJP welcomed the SC judgement and said it removes ambiguities in the powers of the Delhi government.
There should no scope for ‘confusion or conflict’ and the AAP government should humbly accept the Supreme Court judgement, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta said.
PTI