Puducherry: Supreme Court rejected the appeal by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi and Union Home Ministry challenging the verdict of the Madras High Court delivered on 8 May that the Lt Governor could not interfere in the day-to-day activities of the elected government in the Union Territory.
Chief Minister of Puducherry V Narayanasamy hailed the verdict saying that it was historic and a big victory for democracy and for the people. He distributed sweets to legislators and Parliamentary Secretary K Lakshminarayanan and the government whip R K R Anandharaman. Reacting to the verdict, Congress workers burst crackers outside the Assembly premises.
Narayanasamy said the Parliamentary Secretary had filed a petition in the High Court in April this year challenging the Union Home Ministry’s notifications issued in January and June 2017 elevating the powers of Lt Governor.
Following this, High Court allowed the petition of the legislator and ruled that the administrator could not interfere in the day to day affairs of the government. In May, Kiran Bedi then challenged the High Court order in Supreme court, which was dismissed yesterday. SC had also refused to extend its order restraining the Puducherry government from implementing any cabinet decisions having financial implications and asked the Centre to move the Madras High Court with its plea on alleged power tussle between the chief minister and the Lt Governor.
“I have also pleaded with the Prime Minister to recall Kiran Bedi as Lt Governor. I hope he would listen to the plea now,” said Narayanasamy and added that he wished Kiran Bedi discharged her duties within the statutory limits.
Meanwhile, Kiran Bedi has reportedly said that she was yet to see the apex court order and so could not make any comment. She further stated that interest of the people of Puducherry shall remain here uppermost priority.