New Delhi:
The high-octane political drama in the national capital region will come to an end as the Supreme Court on Wednesday will pronounce its verdict on the prolonged battle between Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmy Party (AAP) government and the Centre, represented by L-G Anil Baijal over the administrative power in Delhi.
A five-judge bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra will deliver its verdict in order to decide who should weid power in Delhi - Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal or L-G Anil Baijal.
In 2016, the Delhi government moved the apex court challenging Delhi High Court's order to hold the Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal as the administrative head in Delhi.
The high court verdict, challenged by AAP had effectively made the "LG as the Viceroy of the British Crown".
During its arguments in court, the ruling AAP had accused the L-G of taking many executive decisions leaving the Delhi government out of the control over land, bureaucracy and police.
The Kejriwal government also alleged that the Centre is using L-G Baijal to rule the national capital region and blocking the state government's high ambitious plans on health, education and several other sectors.
The AAP also stressed on a "harmonious interpretation" of Article 239AA of the Constitution, which deals with power and status of Delhi.
Though the Lieutenant Governor appears to have primacy in Delhi, one of the seven Union territories of India, he cannot "sit over files", did not appear to have the powers to sit in judgment on the democratically-elected government's decisions, the court indicated during its hearing.
The Centre, on the other hand, raised questions over several "illegal" notifications, issued by the AAP government in Delhi. The notifications were challenged in the high court.
The developments came after Chief Minister Kejriwal along with his cabinet colleagues started a nine-day-long sit-in protest at the L-G residence in Delhi.
The protest was basically against the IAS officers who were allegedly holding an month-long unofficial strike and refusing to cooperate with the AAP ministers in the national capital region.
While L-G Baijal criticised the AAP dharna terming it 'unconstitutional', the protest saw several non-NDA political parties join hands to support Kejriwal in pressing his demands.
Amid anticipation for the Supreme Court verdict, the AAP has decided to open 3,000 centres across the city where signed forms in support of the party's full statehood demand for Delhi will be deposited by the party workers.
Under the campaign, the AAP workers will go door to door and collect signatures supporting their full statehood demand for Delhi.
