Delhi Government Challenges Central Order In Supreme Court Over Control Of Bureaucracy

Delhi government officials said on Friday (30 June) that they have challenged a contentious central order in the top court that aimed to take control of Delhi's bureaucracy, bypassing a Supreme Court verdict. This move marks the latest escalation of the bitter feud.

Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has filed a petition in the apex court. The petition challenges the constitutionality of the ordinance introduced by the BJP-led central government on 19 May.

The ordinance establishes a National Capital Civil Service Authority responsible for managing the transfer and disciplinary proceedings against Group-A officers in Delhi.

Just a week after a Supreme Court ruling transferred control of bureaucrats in the national capital's administration (excluding police, public order, and land) to the elected government led by the AAP, the ordinance came into force.

Prior to the 11 May top court ruling, the executive control of officer transfers and postings in the Delhi government rested with the Lieutenant Governor, appointed by the central government.

The Delhi government accused the centre of circumventing the Supreme Court verdict on control of services with its ordinance that's yet to be cleared by Parliament.

The petition demanded the immediate striking down of the central government's ordinance.

The AAP officials announced a series of public protests against the ordinance. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will personally burn copies of the ordinance at the party's central Delhi office on 3 July.

During a press conference, AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bhardwaj, who is also a minister in the Kejriwal cabinet, outlined an extensive protest plan. He stated that copies of the ordinance would be burned across all 70 assembly constituencies of the national capital on 5 July.

Bhardwaj stated that the copies of the ordinance would be set on fire in every nook and corner of Delhi between 6 July and 13 July. The seven vice presidents will ensure that they burn copies in every area of Delhi.

Bhardwaj accused the Centre of attempting to illegally control Delhi through the "black ordinance."