Delhi High Court and Arvind Kejriwal
– Photo: Amar Ujala
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The High Court on Friday rapped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Delhi government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for their failure to provide textbooks to over two lakh students. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said the Delhi government was only interested in appropriation of power and Arvind Kejriwal had put personal interest above national interest by not resigning despite being arrested in a money laundering case. Is.
The bench said that as a court, it is not our job to distribute books, uniforms etc. We are doing this because someone is failing in his work. Your client is only interested in power. I don’t know how much power you want. The problem is that you are trying to grab power, that’s why you are not getting power.
Delhi government’s counsel Shadan Farasat said he has received instructions from Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj that in the absence of the MCD standing committee, the consent of the Chief Minister will be required to delegate more powers to an appropriate authority who is currently in custody. To this argument, ACJ Manmohan replied that this could not be an excuse and also said that the High Court itself had rejected various petitions seeking directions to remove Arvind Kejriwal from the post of CM.
The court said that it is your choice that you have said that the government will continue despite the Chief Minister being in custody. You are forcing us to go on a path that we did not want to go on. We have said this many times in PILs, but this is a call from your administration. If you want us to comment on this, we will come with full force.
This is the whole matter
Let us inform that the bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an organization called Social Jurist, in which the issue was raised that students studying in MCD schools have not received textbooks and are living in tin sheds due to the impasse in the civic body. I am studying. During the previous hearing of the case, the MCD Commissioner had joined the proceedings and informed the bench that around two lakh students do not have any bank account, uniform and hence stationery reimbursement has not been made to these students.
He had said that one of the main reasons for non-distribution of notebooks, stationery items, uniforms and school bags was ‘non-formation of standing committees’ and only the standing committee had the power and jurisdiction to award contracts worth more than Rs 5 crore. Is. The Court had then said that there cannot be a void and if for any reason the Standing Committee is not available, the financial power should be handed over to an appropriate authority by the Delhi Government. The division bench has ordered the government to take necessary action within two working days.
Court commented on the conduct of Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj
During today’s hearing, ACJ Manmohan also commented on the conduct of Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and said that he has turned a blind eye to the plight of the students and is shedding crocodile tears. Justice Manmohan said he would also include Saurabh Bhardwaj’s name in the order. Farasat said the reason why MCD does not have a standing committee is that the LG has illegally appointed aldermen and the matter is under the cognizance of the Supreme Court. Farasat also said that the Delhi government does not have much powers anyway.
Delhi government is not worried about students not going to school: High Court
On this the court commented that the Delhi government is not concerned about students not going to school or not having textbooks. The court said that your interest is only in power. This is the supreme arrogance of power. The court warned the government not to underestimate it. The bench said do not underestimate our courage. You are underestimating our power… You are keeping children as a trading point, they are not a trading commodity for us.
The court reserved its decision on the matter
ACJ Manmohan said the Delhi government’s stance in the matter is an admission that things are very bad in Delhi and almost every major aspect under the MCD is at a standstill. Ultimately, he reserved his order in the case and said the verdict would be pronounced on Monday.