A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Delhi High Court, seeking direction to the Director General of Prisons to arrange for efficient governance of Delhi by allowing CM Arvind Kejriwal to conduct video conferencing interactions with assembly members and cabinet ministers.
The Plea
The plea also requests direction to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to prevent the media from broadcasting alleged misleading, sensational headlines related to the imposition of President’s rule in Delhi. The petition, filed by Shrikant Prasad, asserts that neither the Constitution of India nor any law prohibits any minister, including the chief minister/prime minister, from governing the government from the prison complex while in judicial custody.
Delhi High Court
Recently, the Delhi High Court dismissed three public interest litigations seeking directions to remove Arvind Kejriwal from his position as Chief Minister.
While dismissing the third petition, filed by a former Cabinet Minister of Delhi, the court imposed a Rs 50,000 fine on the petitioner and remarked, “Stop making a mockery of the system. Costs are the only way to curb such petitions.” Justices Manmohan and Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora expressed dissatisfaction with the petitioner, stating that the Governor would make a decision on this matter. “We won’t. Don’t make political speeches in court. You’re attempting to embroil us in the political quagmire,” the Justice remarked.
A former minister in the Aam Aadmi Party government and ex-MLA recently filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal from his position as Chief Minister.
The petition alleges a writ of quo-warranto against Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that he has become incapable of holding the office of Chief Minister of Delhi following his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Excise Policy case.
The Arrest
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Directorate of Enforcement in connection to the excise policy case. On April 15, the trial court extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal until April 23, 2024. The ED alleges that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the primary beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam.
