SC AFFIRMS LG'S POWER TO APPOINT ALDERMEN, CLEARS WAY FOR STANDING COMMITTEE FORMATION

Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faced another setback as the Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s decision to nominate 10 ‘aldermen’ to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

- TIKAM SHARMA

This ruling clears the way for forming the Standing Committee in the MCD, which has been absent since the AAP took power. Following the Supreme Court’s order, Sardar Raja Iqbal Singh, the leader of the opposition in the MCD, stated, “Considering the interests of the citizens, the Aam Aadmi Party’s Mayor should issue a notification for the elections of the Standing Committee and Ward Committees as soon as possible.”

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices Narasimha and JB Pardiwala stated that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) is expected to act according to the statutory mandate, rather than based on the aid and advice of the Delhi government.

The top court, in its judgement, declared, “The Delhi LG is to act as per the mandate of the statute, not on the advice of the council of ministers.”