Delhi Lt Governor can independently nominate civic body members: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court stated on Monday that Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor has the power to nominate members to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) without consent from the government.

The Court ruled that the power came from the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, so the Lt Governor didn’t need to follow the advice of the Delhi government. Since it is a statutory power and not an executive one, the Lieutenant Governor had to follow the statutory mandate, not as per the advice of the Delhi Government.

Amid controversy over the nomination of 10 aldermen to the MCD, a Bench consisting of CJI Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala reserved the verdict on May 17, 2023, regarding Lt Governor VK Saxena’s decision to nominate 10 aldermen without the advice of the council of ministers.