SC may set up Constitution bench after summer vacation over plea challenging HC verdict on LG primacy

The Supreme Court on Monday said it may set up a constitution bench after summer vacation over a plea of AAP-led Delhi government seeking for the same decide its appeal against HC verdict upholding the primacy of LG in the city administration.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and JusticesD Y Chandrachud and S K Kaul told senior advocate GopalSubramaniam, appearing for the Delhi government, that it may consider setting up of the bench soon, "possibly" after the summer vacation.

Subramaniam mentioned the matter before the bench and said that the appeals have been referred to the CJI for setting up of a larger bench to deal with various constitutional issues.

The apex court had on February 15 referred to aConstitution bench a batch of pleas filed by the AAPgovernment against the high court verdict, which had held that Delhi is not a state and that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) is its administrative head.

The top court had said that important questions of law and the Constitution are involved in the matter and it should be adjudicated upon by a Constitution Bench.

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However, it did not frame questions to be deliberated upon by the Constitution bench in the matter and had asked theCentre and the Delhi government to argue their case before the larger bench.

The Delhi government had on February 2 told the court that it has exclusive executive powers in relation to matters falling within the purview of the Legislative Assembly and neither the Centre nor the President or the LG can encroach upon these. (With PTI Inputs)