Supreme Court to hear on April 10 Delhi Govt's plea challenging nomination of members to MCD by L-G

Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on April 10 a plea of the Delhi Govt to quash the nomination of 10 members to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by the Lieutenant Governor

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on April 10 a plea of the Delhi Government to quash the nomination of 10 members to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by the Lieutenant Governor.

A Bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala will hear the plea.

On March 29, the top court had sought a response from the office of Lieutenant Governor on the plea.

In the petition filed through lawyer Shadan Farasat, the Arvind Kejriwal Government has challenged the decision of the L-G to nominate the members allegedly without the “aid and advice” of the elected dispensation and its Council of Ministers.

In February, the top court had ensured the holding of poll for Mayor and Deputy Mayor by making it clear that the 10 nominated members of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi cannot vote in the mayoral election.

Besides seeking quashing the nominations, the plea has sought a direction to the L-G office to “nominate members to the MCD under Section 3(3)(b)(i) of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act... in accordance with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers”.

“This petition has been filed by the elected government of the NCT of Delhi seeking inter alia quashing of orders dated..., and consequent gazette notifications..., whereby the Lieutenant Governor has illegally appointed 10 (ten) nominated members to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi on his own initiative, and not on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers,” the plea said.