Supreme Court Upholds LG's Power in Delhi's MCD Nominations

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi, confirming his authority to nominate aldermen to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) without the advice of the council of ministers. This decision impacts the relationship between the LG and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

In a significant development for Delhi's governance, the Supreme Court on Monday endorsed the Lieutenant Governor's authority to nominate aldermen to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) independently of the council of ministers' advice. The ruling marks a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala dismissed the Delhi government's petition challenging this power. The judgment, which comes after a 15-month deliberation, affirms that the 1993 amendment to the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act explicitly enables the LG to nominate individuals with special knowledge to the corporation.

This ruling is expected to strain the already tense relationship between the LG's office and the AAP-led Delhi administration. According to the court, the statute's language and legislative intent support the LG's nomination powers as a statutory duty, rather than an executive power subject to ministerial guidance.

(With inputs from agencies.)