Delhi High Court Transfers Plea Seeking Removal of Arvind Kejriwal as CM, Deems it Filed for Publicity
Legal Battle Intensifies as Delhi High Court Transfers Plea Seeking Removal of Arvind Kejriwal amid Allegations of Publicity Stunt.
New Delhi, 08 April 2024: A recent development in the legal saga surrounding Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has seen a petition seeking his removal being transferred by the Delhi High Court to a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan. The petitioner, Sandeep Kumar, a former cabinet minister in the Delhi government, alleged that Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the excise policy case rendered him unfit to hold the office of Chief Minister.
The plea, which sought a writ of quo warranto against Kejriwal, questioned the authority by which he continues to hold the position of Chief Minister despite being in custody. However, during the proceedings, Justice Subramonium Prasad raised doubts about the nature of the petition, questioning whether it truly served the public interest or was merely seeking publicity.
Justice Prasad transferred the matter to be heard by a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, noting that similar issues had been dealt with by that bench in the past. He remarked that heavy costs might have been imposed if not for the transfer. The hearing is now scheduled for April 10.
The plea highlights the petitioner’s concern over Kejriwal’s “unavailability,” arguing that his incapacity to function as Chief Minister from custody complicates the constitutional mechanism. Kumar, representing himself as a voter, expressed personal aggrievement over the situation.
This development comes in the wake of Kejriwal’s recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate and subsequent judicial custody until April 15. Legal battles have ensued, with Kejriwal challenging his arrest, while other petitions seeking his removal as Chief Minister have been filed and disposed of by the courts.
Previously, a plea by Vishnu Gupta seeking Kejriwal’s removal was disposed of after he opted to withdraw it and file a representation before the Lieutenant Governor. Another petition by Surjit Singh Yadav was dismissed by the court, emphasizing that such matters should be examined by other organs of the state in accordance with the law.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the fate of Arvind Kejriwal’s tenure as Delhi’s Chief Minister remains uncertain, with various legal challenges and public scrutiny at play.
