SC may set up Constitution bench to hear AAP govt pleas soon

The Delhi government has requested the Supreme Court to set up a Constitution bench at the earliest to decide its pleas challenging the Delhi High Court verdict that the Lieutenant Governor is the administrative head of the national capital territory.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar told senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the Delhi government, that it may consider setting up of the bench soon, possibly after the summer vacation.

The apex court had on 15th of February referred to a Constitution bench a batch of pleas filed by the AAP government against the high court verdict, which had held that Delhi is not a state and that the Lieutenant Governor is its administrative head. However, it did not frame questions to be deliberated upon by the Constitution bench in the matter and had asked the Centre and the Delhi government to argue their case before a larger bench.