The Supreme Court of India (SC) on Tuesday agreed to set up a five-judge Constitution bench to hear the legal issue concerning the scope of legislative and executive powers of the Centre and National Capital Territory government over control of services in Delhi for an “authoritative pronouncement”.
Senior advocate A M Singhvi, appearing for the AAP government, urged a bench consisting of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli to list the matter for urgent hearing.
Singvhi said, “It is very urgent. Please list it,” to which the CJI responded, “We will”.
The SC had earlier on May 6 referred the issue of control of services in Delhi to a five-judge Constitution bench.
The bench had reserved its order on April 28 on the Centre’s submission that the dispute over the control over services be referred to a five-judge bench, which was opposed strongly by the AAP led government in Delhi.
The Delhi government’s plea comes after a split verdict on February 14, 2019, in which a two judge bench comprising Justices A K Sikri and Bhushan, who have retired since, recommended the CJI that a three-judge bench be set up to reach a final decision on the issue of control of services in the national capital in view of its split verdict.
