Supreme Court defers hearing in Puducherry Case to July 10

The Supreme Court Vacation Bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant deferred the hearing in the case relating to the power struggle between the Lieutenant Governor and the elected government of the Union Territory of Puducherry to July 10.

The Bench further directed continuance of the previous interim order restraining the Cabinet from implementing any decisions having financial implications.

The issue relates to rice distribution to people holding ration cards and living below the poverty line. Representing the Lieutenant General (LG) Kiran Bedi, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, submitted there was no objection to the distribution. However, Senior Counsel, Kapil Sibal, objected to the same. Sibal argued there was a policy decision set by the Court order on this issue and it would have to be modified.

In an order passed on April 30, the Madras Court had held that the elected government of the Union Territory generally assumes supremacy over the LG. Bedi has challenged this order before the Supreme Court. The Union of India also filed a separate special leave petition on similar lines before the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has restrained the Puducherry government from implementing any cabinet decisions that might have financial implications.