Delhi govt vs LG verdict: This is stunning defeat for ‘anarchist’ Kejriwal, says BJP’s Sambit Patra

Arvind Kejriwal is an anarchist, who has been tampering with rules while putting Constitution at stake, said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra after the Supreme Court’s split verdict gave almost all powers to the Lt Governor Anil Baijal. Attacking the Delhi Chief Minister for his press conference, Patra said that, “we can't believe a democratically elected chief minister can use this type of language for Supreme Court. He has always been an anarchist; tampering with rules while putting Constitution at stake is his method.”

The Supreme Court Thursday pronounced a split verdict on the contentious issue of control of services in the National Capital Territory in the tussle between the Delhi government and the Centre and referred the matter to a larger bench. A two-judge bench comprising Justices AK Sikri and Ashok Bhushan, however, agreed on their views on disputes pertaining to the anti-corruption branch, setting up of commission of inquiry, control over electricity boards, land revenue matters and appointment of public prosecutors. The apex court also upheld the Centre's notification that its employees cannot be probed in corruption cases by ACB of Delhi government. The top court also said that instead of the LG, the Delhi government will have the right to appoint public prosecutors or law officers. 

Last year, in a landmark verdict on July 4, the Supreme Court had held that Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal does not have independent decision making powers, and is bound to act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers.

The judgment pronounced in the court by then Chief Justice Dipak Misra, who was heading a five judge Constitution bench, also held that the LG cannot act as an "obstructionist".

Two other judges, Justices A K Sikri and A M Khanwilkar, concurred with the verdict.

It said all decisions of the Council of Ministers must be communicated to the LG but that does not mean his concurrence is required. "There is no room for absolutism and there is no room for anarchism also," the court had ruled.