Who calls the shots in Delhi? SC to decide long-running tussle between Arvind Kejriwal and Centre

Is Delhi a state, union territory or hybrid? The air over Capital's status will clear today when a 5-judge bench of the Supreme Court takes up the matter in what is being seen as a possible end to a long-running tussle between the Centre and AAP government as to who should call the shots in the National Capital Territory.

Kejriwal's grouse
The AAP government and the lieutenant governor have had an ugly public spat over the matter, with state accusing successive LGs of stalling its policy decisions relating to development work in the NCT. The tussle led to the famous 'sit-in' last month by Arvind Kejriwal and his colleagues at the L-G office demanding he direct civil servants in Delhi to withdraw their strike in protest against the alleged assault by AAP MLAs on chief secretary Anshu Prakash at the residence of the CM.

AAP has sought interpretation of Article 239AA of the Constitution, which according to the Centre created a state in Delhi but gave a major say in governance to the LG as he had been clearly mandated to take a decision when there was disagreement between him and the Delhi government over governance issues.


Additional solicitor general Maninder Singh said the provisions of Article 239AA were crystal clear and there was no ambiguity as it categorically stated that in case of difference of opinion, the LG’s view will prevail.
Wednesday's judgement will be delivered by a bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan.

The Kejriwal government had complained to the SC that it was facing a crisis in governance because after the Delhi High Court’s “LG is boss of administration in Delhi” ruling, Delhi cadre officers were “increasingly reluctant” to report to ministers.