SC to hear on Monday Delhi Govt’s plea against vesting LG with power to appoint lawyers

The Supreme Court is likely to take up on Monday the Delhi Government’s petition challenging the Centre’s decision to confer power on the Lt Governor to appoint government lawyers.

The Delhi Government has challenged a 2017 office memorandum issued by the union home ministry and an order passed by the Delhi lieutenant governor’s office on February 16.

A petition is scheduled to be heard by a Bench led by Justice Sanjiv Khanna on November 4.

“The elected Government of NCT of Delhi ought to be able to decide on the engagement of counsel, and the right to choose a counsel of a choice is one of the most zealously guarded rights. The elected government cannot be shut out from choosing its advocates before the Constitutional courts,” the Delhi Government submitted.

The impugned memorandum and other orders passed by the LG severely obstruct and hinder the government’s ability to represent the interests of the electorate of Delhi, the petition contended.