The Supreme Court on Friday permits the Delhi Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta, and the Delhi government under her leadership to withdraw cases filed by the former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) administration against the Centre and the Lieutenant Governor. A bench of Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai, and Justice Augustine George Masi permitted the same after Additional Solicitor General, Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the BJP-led central government, said that “these matters should not trouble this court anymore.”

A total of seven cases were filed by the Arvind Kejriwal government, which includes the control of services in Delhi, the authority of LG in committees, and the validity of some acts and orders issued by the Centre. The battle for control over services has resulted in a judgment by a five-judge Constitution Bench of the Court on May 11, 2023. The cases are still pending in the Apex Court.

Cases Against LG

In the May 11, 2023, judgment, the Court gave control over resources, excluding the police, public order, and land, to the Delhi government, since the administration of the National Capital Region is unlike other Union Territories and has been accorded the ‘sui generis’ (or unique) status, satisfied the Constitution. This makes the need for the elected state government to control bureaucrats, failing which the principle of collective responsibility is adversely affected.

Another such dispute between the Delhi government and then LG was over the January 19, 2023 National Green Tribunal order. The order states that the LG would head a high-level committee for Yamuna rejuvenation. On challenge by the Aam Aadmi Party government, the Supreme Court stayed the order.

Earlier, cases were filed by the Aam Aadmi Party government against officers, but are now withdrawn from the Delhi High Court as well. The AAP-led Delhi government has also protested against many ordinances and said it was behind the emboldening of bureaucrats who allegedly stopped following ministers’ orders and attending meetings called by them.

Some of the examples given by AAP party leaders were the stalled work on water and sewer pipelines and repair of broken roads. Several ministers of the AAP government wrote to the LG seeking actions against officers and claiming officers are not following the LG’s direction.