Centre-Delhi row heads to Constitution Bench:

The 3 – Judge Supreme Court bench has referred to a Constitution Bench the battle between the Centre and Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for control over bureaucrats in the Capital.

What’s the issue?

The tussle between the Union and Delhi governments is over the limited question concerning ‘services’ or bureaucracy.

Delhi Government’s arguments:
The National Capital Territory government had compared its predicament without power over the ‘services’ like that of a king without a kingdom.
For example, the government had to get the approval of the Lieutenant Governor to appoint a Health Secretary or a Commerce Secretary. This makes administration really difficult and undemocratic.
The government argues that without the power to control the transfers and postings of the officers, the Principle of “Collective Responsibility” will not be upheld. What the Centre says?
The Centre had argued that Delhi, the nation’s capital and a sprawling metropolis, should be under its control.
It says, Delhi could not be left to the “small mercies and smaller resources” of a State legislature.