‘Do We Impose Emergency or Martial Law’? Delhi HC Rejects PIL Seeking Jail Governance for CM Kejriwal

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a lawyer who sought suitable arrangements for CM Arvind Kejriwal to govern from jail.

Additionally, the court imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the petitioner. The PIL had also aimed to restrain Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva from exerting any ‘undue pressure’ for Kejriwal’s resignation.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora noted that since the AAP leader had already appealed to the Supreme Court regarding his arrest, ‘no orders were necessary’ concerning the provision of any facilities during his judicial custody.

Additionally, it emphasized that the court couldn’t enforce censorship on the media or prevent political adversaries from making statements.

Court Remarks

“Do we impose emergency? We impose censorship? We impose martial law? How do we gag the press? The political rivals?” remarked the court.

“Prepare a bank draft of Rs 1 lakh,” instructed the court to the petitioner. The petitioner contended that while it was “practically impossible” to govern from jail, it could be facilitated through the use of technology.

The PIL

In the PIL, he sought arrangements for video conferencing with Kejriwal in jail. Furthermore, he urged that the media refrain from disseminating “sensational headlines” speculating on his resignation and the imposition of President’s Rule.

Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma stated that the petition was misguided and filed with ulterior motives.

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