SC judgment on AAP vs LG: Arun Jaitley slams AAP for claiming victory; says ‘Delhi’s power subservient to Central government’

As the Supreme Court said that the Delhi’s lieutenant governor is bound to the advice of cabinet and the Aam Aadmi Party claimed the victory, BJP senior leader slammed the APP for calling it victory. He took to the Facebook to express his opinion.

He said that Delhi being a Union Territory makes its powers subservient to the central government.

“It does not add to the powers of the state government or the central government nor does it in any way dilute the same. It emphasises at the importance of elected state government, but Delhi being a Union Territory makes its powers subservient to the central government,” said Jaitley.

In his lengthy Facebook post, He also said “Firstly, if Delhi has no police powers, it cannot set up investigative agency to investigate crimes as had been done in the past”.

Explaining the apex court’s judgment, he said “Secondly, the Supreme Court has held categorically that Delhi cannot compare itself at par with other States and, therefore, any presumption that the administration of the UT cadre of services has been decided in favour of the Delhi government would be wholly erroneous”.

Slamming those who considered the judgment in their favor, he said “There are several issues which had directly not been commented upon, but by implication, there is some indication of those issues. However, unless issues of importance are flagged, discussed and a specific opinion is rendered, none can assume that silence implies an opinion in favour of one or the other.”

The 5-judge bench of Supreme Court on Wednesday held that the Lieutenant Governor has no ‘independent decision making power and has to act on the aid and advice of the elected government.

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