The Supreme Court today adjourned the petition filed by Delhi Mayor, Shelly Oberoi, seeking to allow the corporation to exercise the functions of the Standing Committee. A bench of Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra heard the matter.
Appearing for the Delhi mayor, Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the bench that the Standing Committee is performing several vital functions and any decisions having an expenditure of Rs 5 crores, including the midday meals schemes for the school children has to go through the Standing Committee.
The Senior Advocate further explained to the bench that the Standing Committee consists of 18 members, among whom six members are directly elected by the corporation and the rest 12 members are elected through electoral college, which includes ten members nominated by Lieutenant Governor.
The petitioner in her plea asserted that the members nominated by the LG cannot be allowed to elect the Standing Committee members. Senior Advocate Singhvi, along with his briefing counsel Advocate-on-Record Shadan Farasat, told the bench that the Court, in May last year, reserved judgment on the issue whether the LG can nominate members unilaterally without the consent of the Delhi Government. Subsequently, CJI DY Chandrachud asked if there is a Standing Committee existing today. To this, the Senior Advocate replied in negative.The matter was then adjourned for two weeks.
Aam Aadmi Party member and Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has moved the Supreme Court for relief considering that the functions performed by the Standing Committee are at a halt. Mentioning the prevailing situation, Oberoi, in her petition, has also argued that several amenities have been affected, including the procurement of textbooks and medical supplies for Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s schools and health centres and the maintenance of public parks and public toilets.