The Centre’s stand on government formation in Delhi will only be known after Diwali as the Supreme Court was on Friday informed that Lt Governor Najeeb Jung’s proposal to the President seeking his response on inviting single-largest party BJP was still under consideration.
“The Lt Governor has submitted a report to the President (Pranab Mukherjee). It is under consideration. I will inform you about the decision after Diwali (November 23),” Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar submitted before a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice H. L. Dattu.
The Solicitor General’s request for adjourning the matter on the ground that Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Narsimha, who was to argue the matter was not available due to personal reasons, was accepted by the bench which fixed the next hearing on October 28.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) did not oppose the Centre’s plea before the bench, also comprising Justices J Chelameswar, A K Sikri, R K Agrawal and Arun Mishra.
It was the ASG, who on September 9 hearing, had referred to the letter written by the Lt Governor on September 4 to the President seeking his response on inviting single-largest party BJP for forming the government in Delhi.
The court had asked the Centre to appraise it on the outcome of the process undertaken by Lt Governor on government formation in Delhi, saying “alleged horse-trading” will continue if a decision is not taken.
Senior advocate F S Nariman has been appearing for AAP while BJP was represented by senior lawyer Aman Sinha.
The court had earlier said the matter cannot be kept pending and it may take a view after the Centre informs it about the decision of the President and subsequent political developments.
The court was hearing a plea filed by AAP seeking dissolution of the Assembly and had earlier asked the Centre what steps it has taken to explore the possibility of government formation during the last five months.
