NEW DELHI: The Centre today opposed the AAP Government’s submissions in the Supreme Court saying Delhi has been accorded “special status” among the union territories under the Constitution but that does not make it a state.
The Centre, which is locked in a legal battle with the Delhi Government on the issue of who enjoys supremacy in administering the national capital territory, commenced its arguments before a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra.
Additional Solicitor General Maninder Singh, appearing for the Centre, referred to the constitutional provisions and said that Delhi enjoyed a “special status” among the union territories but this did not elevate the national capital to the status of a state as defined under the Constitution.
Accusing the Arvind Kejriwal-led Government of demanding “uncontrolled, vertically divided executive powers”, the law officer said, “when the power is not vested in you, how can you exercise it? To spend money, you have to have some in your pocket.”
He told the bench, which also comprised Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, that Delhi Government was empowered to take care of daily utilities of the national capital but the real administrative powers were vested with the Centre and the President.
Singh distinguished Delhi’s position in relation to other states and said the national capital territory does not figure in any of the provisions which deal with the powers of states. (AGENCIES)
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