The Hindu (Delhi)

SC junks govt. plea against L-G order on bus marshals

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain the Delhi government’s plea challengin­g Lieutenant­Governor V. K. Saxena’s decision to terminate the services of all civil defence volunteers working as marshals in DTC buses.

Mr. Saxena’s decision was one in a string of reasons for continued hostilitie­s between the Arvind Kejriwal government and him. A Bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachu­d and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submission­s of senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for the AAP government, and asked him to move the Delhi High Court, which shall decide the petition expeditiou­sly.

All good schemes shoring up the government’s popularity are being stalled, Mr. Singhvi said. “Does this (terminatin­g services of marshals) fall under the LG? How can he

Apex court asks the Delhi government to move the High Court for expeditiou­s decision on the issue

stop it?” the senior lawyer asked.

“But why should we entertain it under Article 32 (of the Constituti­on)? Let the Delhi High Court deal with it. We have already dealt with constituti­onal matters [legal tussle between the government and the LG for the control over services].

“The petition seeks reoperatio­nalisation of the bus marshal scheme. In our view, the appropriat­e remedy would be to approach the High Court. In the event the petitioner approaches the High Court, the court shall take up the plea expeditiou­sly,” the CJI said.

The LG had on October 27 approved a proposal to terminate the services of all civil defence volunteers from November 1.