Expedite Delhi govt. formation, SC tells Centre

Otherwise, horse-trading will continue: Bench

September 09, 2014 09:58 am | Updated November 16, 2021 07:17 pm IST - NEW DELHI

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Monday. The AAP on Monday released footage purportedly showing BJP leaders inducing its party MLA with money to support the BJP in Delhi.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference in New Delhi on Monday. The AAP on Monday released footage purportedly showing BJP leaders inducing its party MLA with money to support the BJP in Delhi.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the Centre that horse-trading would continue if steps were not taken soon to form a government in Delhi. “Things better be done at the earliest, otherwise horse-trading will continue,” a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Justice H.L. Dattu told the Centre.

The observation was made with reference to a footage released by the Aam Aadmi Party, the petitioner in the case, purportedly showing some Bharatiya Janata Party leaders inducing its party MLA with money and perks to support the BJP.

Additional Solicitor General P.S. Narasimha read out a letter dated September 4 from Delhi Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung to President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking his advice on inviting the BJP, the single largest party, to form the government in Delhi.

Mr. Narasimha said the process of forming a government was in the legislative domain and the court could intervene only if there was a question of legality involved. To this, Justice Dattu said the intention of the court was merely to “to have a government formed.” Mr. Narasimha replied that the process had begun. “I can assure you we are serious about it, but being a legislative process, we need to be given some time,” he said.

The Centre sought time till October-end, but the court refused and fixed the next date of hearing for October 10.

The petition filed by the AAP and Saurabh Bhardwaj, Transport Minister in the Arvind Kejriwal Cabinet, on February 20 sought the immediate dissolution of the Assembly and fresh elections.

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