SC issues notice to centre on Delhi government's plea against ordinance

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on a plea filed by the Delhi government, challenging the services ordinance promulgated by the central government on May 19 that gave overriding powers to the lieutenant governor in transfers and postings of civil servants in Delhi.

A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and justice PS Narasimha ordered that lieutenant governor VK Saxena be impleaded as a respondent in the case.

The court will take up the plea of the Delhi government seeking stay on the ordinance on Monday, when the court will also hear the plea demanding stay on LG's decision to terminate 437 consultants appointed by the Arvind Kejriwal government.


Appearing on behalf of the Delhi government, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that the ordinance gives a carte blanche to the Chief Secretary to disobey the "elected government".

Appearing on behalf of the Centre, solicitor general Tushar Mehta argued that the decision to remove the consultants was based on "some shocking facts".

The Delhi government has argued that the ordinance wrests control over civil servants in Delhi from the elected government to the "unelected" LG. Alleging that the ordinance is "manifestly arbitrary", the Delhi government has contended that the ordinance violates the scheme of federal, democratic governance for Delhi.