Delhi government vs LG: Supreme Court to deliver verdict tomorrow over control of services in national capital

The Supreme Court will pronounce verdict on Thursday in the tussle between the Central and Delhi governments regarding the administrative control over transfers and postings of civil servants in the national capital [Government of NCT of Delhi vs Union of India]..A Constitution bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and also comprising Justices MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha had reserved its verdict in the matter on January 18 this year.BackgroundThe case arose in 2018, when a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court had interpreted Article 239AA of the Constitution, which contains special provisions with respect to the National Capital Territory (NCT). The peculiar status of the NCT and the powers of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and the LG and their interplay were debated in the case.The Court in that judgment had ruled that the LG cannot act independently without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, and has to work harmoniously with the NCT government.The appeals relating to individual aspects including services were then placed before a regular Bench for adjudication based on the Constitution Bench judgment.The regular bench had on April 14, 2019, pronounced its verdict on various individual aspects relating to the tussle between the Delhi government and the LG.However, the two judges on the Bench - Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan - had differed on the issue of 'services' under Schedule VII, List II, Entry 41 of the Constitution of IndiaThe issue considered by the Court was whether the exclusion of “services” relatable to Entry 41 of List II of the Seventh Schedule from the legislative and executive domain of the NCT of Delhi, vide a notification of the Government of India dated May 21, 2015, is unconstitutional and illegal.Since the judges on the Bench differed, that aspect was referred to a larger Bench and it came up before a three-judge bench.The three-judge bench then referred the matter to the Constitution Bench on the Centre's request.The primary basis of the prayer to refer it to a five-judge bench was that the majority judgment of the Constitution Bench did not consider purpose and intent of the expression “insofar as any such matter is applicable to Union Territories” as it occurs in Article 239AA(3) of the Constitution, which is the pivotal and crucial aspect of the said provision..Read our coverage of Day 1 of the hearing here.Read our coverage of Day 2 of the hearing here.Read our coverage of Day 3 of the hearing here.Read our coverage of Day 4 of the hearing here.Read our coverage of Day 5 of the hearing here.