Supreme Court verdict on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal vs Delhi LG Anil Baijal highlights: L-G Anil Baijal or CM Arvind Kejriwal — Supreme Court to decide who holds the reins of Delhi. (Express Photo/Praveen Khanna/File) Supreme Court verdict on Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal vs Delhi LG Anil Baijal highlights: L-G Anil Baijal or CM Arvind Kejriwal — Supreme Court to decide who holds the reins of Delhi. (Express Photo/Praveen Khanna/File)

The Supreme Court Wednesday said the Delhi Lieutenant Governor cannot act independently and must take the aid and advise of the Council of Ministers. It observed that the national capital enjoys special status and is not a full state. Hence, the role of the L-G is different than that of a Governor. The apex court also observed that neither the state nor the L-G should feel lionized, but realise they are serving Constitutional obligations. “There is no space for absolutism or anarchy in our Constitution,” the SC stated.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had accused L-G Anil Baijal of taking decisions of an elected government and delaying work by sitting on files. The Centre, which appoints the L-G, had contended that “for any Centrally administered territory… and especially Delhi in respect of its unique position… responsibility is on the shoulders of the Union Government”.

Also read | Kejriwal calls SC verdict a ‘big victory for democracy’

The matter was heard by a five-judge bench which was headed by CJI Dipak Misra and comprised Justice A K Sikri, Justice A M Khanwilkar, Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice Ashok Bhushan. It had reserved its verdict on December 6, 2017.

AAP vs LG: Full text of Supreme Court judgment by The Indian Express on Scribd

Read the full text of the Supreme Court judgment