After a long and arduous wait, Delhi is set to get a mayor after the recent intervention of the Supreme Court. The court has ordered the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi to notify the first meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and elect a mayor within 24 hours. This comes after three previous attempts to elect a mayor failed, and it is seen as a legal victory for the Aam Aadmi Party.
The elections for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi were held on December 4th, 2022, and since then, the city has been without a mayor. This has caused frustration among the citizens of Delhi, who have been eagerly awaiting the appointment of a mayor to oversee the functioning of the city’s municipal corporation. The failure to elect a mayor has also raised concerns about the functioning of the city’s civic administration and its impact on the lives of the people.
A day after the Aam Aadmi Party’s big win in the Supreme Court, which ruled that members of Delhi’s civic body appointed by the Lieutenant Governor cannot vote in the election to choose a mayor, the Lieutenant Governor approved Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s proposal to hold the mayor election on February 22. It will now be held at 11 am in MCD Sadan — the head office of the civic body.
The Supreme Court’s intervention has come as a relief to the people of Delhi. The court’s order that nominated members cannot vote is seen as a significant decision, as it will ensure that only elected representatives have a say in the election of the mayor. This is a step towards ensuring that the democratic process is followed in the election of the mayor and that the will of the people is respected.
The delay in electing a mayor has also highlighted the need for greater autonomy for Delhi’s government. Delhi is a union territory, and its administrative power is shared between the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the central government, and the elected government led by the Chief Minister. This has often led to conflicts between the two, with the elected government complaining about the lack of power and the Lieutenant Governor asserting his authority.
The Supreme Court’s decision is seen as a significant step towards resolving this issue. It reaffirms the elected government’s authority to run the affairs of the city and ensures that the democratic process is respected. This decision will also send a message to other union territories and states that the courts will intervene to uphold the democratic process and ensure that the will of the people is respected.
AAP and BJP locked horns on whether council members, or aldermen, appointed by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, could vote to elect the Mayor. AAP protested when they tried to vote, and the house descended into chaos. The election was eventually postponed again. The aldermen would have added to the BJP’s numbers, AAP had alleged.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s intervention in the election of the mayor of Delhi is a welcome move. The decision to ensure that only elected representatives can vote in the election of the mayor is a step towards ensuring that the democratic process is followed. The delay in electing a mayor has highlighted the need for greater autonomy for Delhi’s government, and the Supreme Court’s decision is a step towards addressing this issue. Delhi will finally have a mayor, and it is hoped that this will lead to better governance and improved living conditions for the people of the city.
