The Madras High Court had on April 30 ruled that the Puducherry L-G does not have the power to interfere with the day-to-day activities of the Union Territory.
Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi (File Photo: IANS)
The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice on the Madras High Court order curbing the powers of Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Bedi, informed the apex court that the Centre was willing to challenge the High Court’s decision and sought an urgent listing of the matter.
Mehta, who was appearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, said: “The governance has come to a standstill.”
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The Centre on Wednesday had sought an urgent hearing regarding the Madras High Court’s decision.
The Madras High Court had on April 30 ruled that Puducherry L-G Kiran Bedi does not have the power to interfere with the day-to-day activities of the Union Territory.
Deciding on the case filed by Puducherry Congress legislator K Lakshminarayanan against Bedi, the High Court said that “Bedi does not have to power to call for files and give orders to the officials”.
The high court had held that the interference of the Lt Governor was equivalent to running a “parallel government”.
Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has been engaged in a running feud with the Governor over the “undemocratic style of functioning” and her “interference” in the routine administration. He had also asked the Centre to recall the LG.
Earlier in February, Narayanasamy had gone on a six-day sit-in dharna outside Kiran Bedi’s official residence.
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