The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): The Delhi High Court has referred a petition demanding the removal of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to a division bench, criticizing the plea as a bid for publicity and suggesting that the petitioner should face substantial costs. The petition, filed by former Aam Aadmi Party legislator Sandeep Kumar, was heard by Justice Subramonium Prasad, who questioned the feasibility of issuing a quo warranto writ against the Chief Minister.
This legal action seeks to challenge Kejriwal’s authority and title to hold his office, particularly after his recent arrest in connection with a money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy. The arrest by the Enforcement Directorate took place on March 21, with Kejriwal subsequently remanded until April 15.
Justice Prasad has forwarded the case to a division bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, noting that similar petitions had been dismissed previously. On April 4, a bench including Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the same grounds, stating that continuing in office was Kejriwal’s personal decision.
The bench reiterated that there was no legal prohibition against an arrested chief minister continuing in office, dismissing another similar PIL earlier. It emphasized that judicial intervention was unwarranted, leaving the matter to other state organs.