The Delhi High Court today cornered the AAP government for the ongoing ‘strike’ that CM Kejriwal and three of his ministers are holding at the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. According to reports, the HC has asked the lawyers of the AAP government who had authorised them to hold a strike at Raj Niwas.
High Court to Delhi Government Lawyer: This can’t be called a strike. You can’t go inside someone’s office or house and hold a strike there.
— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2018
A bench of Justices AK Chawla and Navin Chawla reportedly asked the AAP lawyers as to who had authorised the dharna (strike). They observed that such strikes or sit-ins are to be held outside of an official establishment not inside.
Earlier today, BJP leader Vijender Gupta had petitioned the Delhi HC to pass an order to end the strike by Kejriwal inside Raj Niwas. The AAP government has also approached the HC alleging that the IAS officers are on strike and not cooperating with their government.
Delhi Govt Lawyer: IAS officers yesterday accepted they are not attending meetings called by ministers
Delhi High Court: Thing is that you’re sitting on a dharna. Who authorized them to sit on a dharna like this?
Lawyer: It’s an individual decision.
Delhi HC: Is it authorized?— ANI (@ANI) June 18, 2018
Arvind Kejriwal, Satyendra Jain, Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai have been staging a so-called sit-in inside the Raj Niwas since June 11. They have claimed that the IAS officers of Delhi are on a strike and the LG should direct them to join work. However, this has been refuted by the IAS Association. The IAS officers have already clarified that they are not on strike and performing their usual duties.
Yesterday, AAP workers staged a march on the streets, bringing many parts of the city to a standstill. Arvind Kejriwal was also criticised for making repeated false claims on the issue and attempting to spread misinformation.
Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash had alleged that he was called to the CM’s residence at midnight on 19th February early this year and assaulted by his MLAs. The AAP government has always been at loggerheads with the bureaucrats and LG of Delhi.
