Delhi Govt Moves Supreme Court Challenging Centre’s Ordinance

New Delhi, June 30: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal on Friday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Centre’s ordinance that had curtailed the powers of the Delhi government over matters of governance.

The petition filed by the Delhi Government contended that the ordinance was “unconstitutional” and was "manifestly arbitrary". According to India Today, the petition maintained that the ordinance “sidelines the elected government from control over its civil services".

The Centre had on May 19 brought an ordinance to nullify a landmark judgement of the Apex Court that had made it clear that the control of services in Delhi rests with the duly elected government, excluding those related to police, public order and land.

The ordinance prompted the Delhi government to launch a nationwide campaign by AAP, with Kejriwal visiting non-BJP rule states to drum up the support of the opposition parties ahead of the Monsoon session of Parliament. Kejriwal had also reached out to the Congress, but it remained non-committal.

At the meeting of the opposition parties, he had insisted on a commitment from Congress in Parliament, but it refused to take a stand on the issue.