Delhi HC Rejects PIL Seeking Removal of Arvind Kejriwal as Chief Minister

The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to entertain a PIL seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal as chief minister after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora emphasized the precedence of national interest over personal interest, stating, “At times, personal interest has to be subordinate to national interest but that is his personal call. We are a court of law and have to go by the law. Your remedy does not lie here, it lies elsewhere. You go before the competent forum.” The division bench noted its recent dismissal of a similar PIL seeking Kejriwal’s removal from the chief minister’s post, indicating consistency in its stance.

Following the court’s refusal to intervene, petitioner Vishnu Gupta’s lawyer indicated readiness to withdraw the petition, expressing intent to approach the Lieutenant Governor (LG) with the plea. The high court then disposed of the plea while allowing the petitioner to withdraw the petition.