The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay a Delhi High Court verdict giving primacy to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung in Delhi's administrative affairs but sought the Centre’s response on a batch of petitions by the Delhi government challenging the August 4 ruling.

Issuing notice to the Centre and the Lt Governor, the bench of Justice A.K. Sikri and Justice N.V. Ramana gave the Centre six weeks to file its response and gave the Delhi government two weeks to file a rejoinder to the Centre's reply.

On a suggestion by senior counsel K.K. Venugopal who led the arguments for the Delhi government that the matter may be referred to a constitution bench, the bench said it will consider referring the entire issue to such a bench.

The court fixed November 15 for the final hearing of the petitions.

In a ruling on August 4, the Delhi High Court said that the National Capital Territory continues to be a Union Territory and the Lieutenant General is its administrative head.