SC refuses to stay HC order on Kiran Bedi's powers

The Supreme Court declined to stay a Madras High Court order restricting Puducherry Lieutanant Governor Kiran Bedi's authority to act independently of the elected government in the Union Territory, which is led by Congress lawmaker V Narayanasamy. The top court said a stay might be considered in the next hearing but did not set a future date. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Kiran Bedi and the Centre, sought a stay of the high court order and told the bench that there was havoc in the administration after the high court order. Acting on Congress legislator K Lakshminarayanan's petition, the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court had ruled in April that in matters of finance, administration and service matters, Kiran Bedi could only act on the advice of the council of ministers.