Delhi govt withdraws plea on LG powers from Supreme Court

AAP-led Delhi government has withdrawn from Supreme Court its plea concerning interpretation of the Constitution's Article dealing with the powers of Lieutenant Governor (LG).  The plea had sought setting up of a larger bench in Delhi High Court to decide the issue of interpretation of Article 239AA.

Delhi government withdrew the plea yesterday after the apex court observed that the High Court's division bench is already hearing the matter on day-to-day basis.

Arvind Kejriwal-led government had contended that since the issue



involves interpretation of the Constitution and raises substantial question of law of great public importance, a larger bench of the High Court should hear the matter. The High Court had, however, refused to set up the larger bench.

The Delhi government in May last year had approached the high court challenging the Centre's notification giving LG absolute powers to appoint bureaucrats in the city. It had also challenged the July, 2014 notification limiting Anti-corruption Bureau's jurisdiction to Delhi government officials only.