New Delhi: The Supreme Court today did not step into the political deadlock in Delhi, which has been under President's rule for six months, but said it expected the Centre to come up with a solution at the earliest, asking - should elected representatives sit at home without work?
A five-judge Constitution bench of the court said, "We are not looking at political party before us. We are looking at the Delhi citizen's point of view...he may say he has elected a representative and he is drawing salary from taxpayers' money and sitting idle."
The court was hearing a petition by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to dissolve the assembly and call fresh polls in Delhi. Adjourning the case for five weeks, the judges said the Centre should take a decision at the earliest.
"One party says it has no strength. Other says it has no desire. Third has no strength. In a situation like this why should people suffer?" the bench questioned the Centre.
The judges added that if the Centre made a statement "that the Lieutenant Governor will consider dissolving the house in two months, we will dispose the petition."
Delhi has been under President's rule since February, when Mr Kejriwal quit as Chief Minister after failing to push his Jan Lokpal Bill.
"Our opinion is why should it go with suspended animation and elected representatives sit at home without any work? And why should people suffer?" the court questioned the Centre.
AAP, which won 29 of 70 assembly constituencies, had formed government with help from eight Congress members after the BJP, which won the most number of seats, said it didn't have the numbers to rule.
Mr Kejriwal has accused the BJP of trying to cobble a government by buying the support of rival legislators.
The central government told the court today that it was "still making an endeavor to ensure that people's mandate doesn't go waste in six months."
To which, the court responded, "What sort of endeavor you can make when both the parties are not interested to form government? Tell us after lunch."
A five-judge Constitution bench of the court said, "We are not looking at political party before us. We are looking at the Delhi citizen's point of view...he may say he has elected a representative and he is drawing salary from taxpayers' money and sitting idle."
The court was hearing a petition by Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to dissolve the assembly and call fresh polls in Delhi. Adjourning the case for five weeks, the judges said the Centre should take a decision at the earliest.
The judges added that if the Centre made a statement "that the Lieutenant Governor will consider dissolving the house in two months, we will dispose the petition."
Advertisement
"Our opinion is why should it go with suspended animation and elected representatives sit at home without any work? And why should people suffer?" the court questioned the Centre.
Advertisement
Mr Kejriwal has accused the BJP of trying to cobble a government by buying the support of rival legislators.
Advertisement
To which, the court responded, "What sort of endeavor you can make when both the parties are not interested to form government? Tell us after lunch."
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Supreme Court's YouTube Channel Restored After Hacking "Back Home": Ashok Chavan's Brother-In-Law And Ex-MP Rejoins Congress Sharad Pawar Faction Goes To Top Court For New Poll Symbols For Both NCPs Top Hezbollah Commander Killed As Israeli Strike Rattles Beirut "100% Correct": Top Official On Report "900 Militants" Came From Myanmar "Will Not Rest Until...": EY Chief On Employee's Death Due To 'Overwork' Personal Assistant Of Manipur Minister Kidnapped: Cops Suspected Trump Assassination Plotter Has Criminal History UN Security Council Meets In Emergency Session Over Lebanon Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.