JOIN USCentre tells SC why Assembly should not be dissolved
The Centre on Thursday justified before the Supreme Court the imposition of President’s rule in the national capital, saying there was still a possibility of formation of an alternative government and it would be against public interest to hold fresh elections.
Describing the political situation as “fluid”, it said the formation of the government at Delhi cannot be ruled out.
The government’s response came on a petition filed by the Aam Aadmi Party challenging the decision to keep Delhi Assembly under suspended animation and imposition of President’s rule.
“The Delhi Legislative Assembly has been put in suspended animation because situation was fluid and any other party or alliance staking claim to form government cannot be ruled out,” the central government said in an affidavit.
“The right of the citizens of Delhi to have a popularly elected Government obligates the President not to prematurely dissolve the Legislative Assembly, but to explore all means to have a popular government installed. This it was necessary not to close the right of other parties to form a government,” it added.
It rejected the claim by the AAP that no other party would come forward to form the government, saying it was based solely on unauthenticated news reports.
The Centre also reminded Arvind Kejriwal-led party of how it changed its stand from initial reluctance to the decision to form the Delhi government to contend that likewise BJP could also change its decision.
The apex court had last month issued notice to the Centre on the petition by the AAP. The court is likely to take up the matter for hearing on March 7.
The Centre also trashed an argument by the AAP that they had a majority government by claiming that it was reduced to minority after its failure to introduce Jan Lokpal Bill.