Supreme Court pulls up Delhi LG VK Saxena over municipal body polls
Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan told the LG's office to not hold election till it hears the plea of Mayor Oberoi of AAP against the September 27 ballot
The Supreme Court on Friday (October 4) asked Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena the reason behind the “tearing hurry” to order the polls for the standing committee of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The apex court also asked the lieutenant governor to stall the polls till the court hears objections raised by Mayor Shelly Oberoi.
The election is supposed to pick the sixth member of MCD’s standing committee.
SC to hear Mayor Oberoi
Justices PS Narasimha and R Mahadevan told the lieutenant governor’s office to not hold election till it hears the plea of Mayor Oberoi of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) against the September 27 Standing Committee ballot.
Also read: AAP moves SC over MCD standing committee's recent election
"We will view it seriously if you hold an election for the MCD standing committee chairman," the bench told senior advocate Sanjay Jain, who appeared for the lieutenant governor’s office.
The apex court said that initially it was not inclined to entertain this petition but had to issue notice because of Saxena's decision to exercise his powers under Section 487 of the Delhi Municipal Act.
Also read: MCD wrongly overpowered, mandate stolen: Kejriwal after BJP wins standing committee poll
SC seeks LG’s response
"Democracy will be in danger if you start using executive powers under Section 487 of the DMC Act. How can you interdict the electoral process?" the bench asked.
The bench sought a response from the LG's office in two weeks and posted the matter for hearing after the Dussehra holiday break.
