Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has to start a fresh fight against the Lt. Governor (LG) Najeeb Jung and the NDA government as the Supreme Court stayed today the orders issued by the single judge of Delhi High Court on who will have control over the bureaucrats of the Delhi government.

The Delhi High Court in its judgment given on May 25th has termed the notification issued by the Home Ministry as an attempt for clipping powers of the AAP government.

As per the notification, the LG will have jurisdiction over matters connected with services, public order, police and land and he may consult with the Chief Minister whenever he thinks necessary on issues of services using his own discretion.

Responding to the Delhi government’ petition, The High Court asks the LG to coordinate with the AAP government. It also confirmed the powers of the AAP government on the bureaucrats. The High Court ordered the Anti-Corruption Bureau Chief to directly report to the Chief Minister and not to the LG.

Then the Centre has filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the HC verdict on this matter. A vacation bench of the apex court comprising Justices A K Sikri and U U Lalit has issued stay orders today on the High Court’s ruling on Centre’s notification.

The bench stated that the High Court would hear the fresh petition filed by the Delhi government challenging the May 21 notification of the Centre independently and without being influenced by the observations made by the single judge in his verdict. The apex court bench issued notice and sought response within six weeks from the Delhi government. It also leaves the choice to the Delhi government to decide whether to settle this matter in the High Court or wants to approach it.