New Delhi, August 13, 2025 — The Delhi High Court has raised serious questions over the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) decision to reject a diesel generator procurement proposal that had already received clearance from the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The court’s observations came during a hearing on a petition filed by the Delhi government, challenging the LG’s intervention in what it described as an executive decision backed by statutory authority.
The diesel generators in question were intended for emergency power backup in critical public infrastructure, including hospitals and disaster response units. The CEA had approved the purchase under its 2023 regulations, which outline safety and supply measures for electrical apparatus under the Electricity Act, 2003.
The High Court bench noted that the LG’s refusal appeared to override a technical and regulatory approval granted by a central authority empowered under law. “If the CEA has vetted the proposal based on national safety and supply standards, what is the basis for the LG’s rejection?” the bench asked, directing the LG’s office to submit a detailed justification.
Legal experts argue that the case touches on the broader issue of administrative boundaries between elected governments and constitutional authorities. The Delhi government contends that the LG’s intervention violates the principles laid down in previous Supreme Court rulings regarding the limits of gubernatorial oversight in day-to-day governance.
The court has reserved its judgment but indicated that it will examine whether the LG’s action was ultra vires the Constitution and whether it undermines the authority of statutory bodies like the CEA.
This case could set a precedent for future disputes involving executive decisions and gubernatorial powers, especially in union territories with elected governments.
