World looks at India through Delhi; needs its control: Centre

New Delhi: The Union government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the transfer and postings of officials in Delhi need to stay under its reigns. It argued that the entire world looks at India through Delhi, the city houses high officials of all other counties, thus making the Centre require special powers over the Union Territory's administration, IANS reported.

The BJP government moved an application before the top court to transfer the matter to a constitution bench to interpret Article 239AA of the Constitution.

Before the SC bench constituted by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana, along with justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta contended that it is not about which political party rules the capital, but Delhi's laws were guided by how the capital would be administered. Mehta cited the Balakrishnan Committee report, which suggested that Delhi should be under the control of the Centre in the interest of the nation, to defend his arguments. Administering Puducherry and Delhi is entirely different, and having the power of the capital would enable the Centre to perform its national and international duties, he stated. He went on to say that Delhi being the capital, the Centre taking control of important issues is essential.

A constitution bench of the SC ruled in 2018 that police, land and public order are the domain of the Centre while the rest stays with the Delhi government.

The Union government moved an application to refer the matter to a five-judge constitution bench.

On April 12, the SC started hearing the dispute between the UT and the Centre on the matter. Delhi's AAP government had argued that the Centre is "negating" federalism by trying to whisk away the UT's powers on transfers and postings.

The hearing on the matter will continue.