"Open Challenge To Supreme Court": Arvind Kejriwal On Centre's New Order

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the central government had "insulted the majesty of the Supreme Court" with a special order that bypassed its ruling on who controls bureaucrats in the capital.

"This is a disgusting joke. They have overturned the Supreme Court judgment within a week. The centre is challenging the Supreme Court openly. This is direct contempt of the Supreme Court and an insult to its majesty," Mr Kejriwal said at a news briefing.

"The ordinance will be challenged in the Supreme Court. It will slow down the Delhi government's work but will not stop it," Mr Kejriwal said, accusing the central government of waiting for the court to break for its summer vacation before introducing the "unconstitutional" order.

Mr Kejriwal's attack came a day after the centre introduced the ordinance that bypasses the Supreme Court's May 11 verdict which held that the Delhi government will control the appointment and transfer of bureaucrats except for public order, police and land affairs.

It also asked the Supreme Court to review the judgment, saying it "suffers from errors apparent on the face of the record and fails to consider the case submitted by the review petitioner".

Last week, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, in a unanimous verdict, put an end to the dispute between the centre and the Delhi government running since 2015.

On Friday, the centre issued a special order - known as an ordinance - to create an authority for the transfer and posting of senior officers in Delhi. The ordinance seeks to set up a National Capital Civil Service Authority for the transfer of and disciplinary proceedings against bureaucrats.

In a statement attributed to "government sources", it said it was forced to issue the order because of the Delhi government's regular "instigation" and "acrimonious attacks" on the centre and the city's unique character.