The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear on Monday a plea seeking to declare the sit-in by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and three of his ministers at the lieutenant governor’s office as unconstitutional and illegal, PTI reported.
The sit-in at Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal’s office against an alleged strike by bureaucrats entered the fourth day on Thursday. The Aam Aadmi Party has threatened a protest at the Prime Minister’s Office on Sunday if their demands are not met this week.
The plea filed by Delhi-based lawyer Hari Nath Ram sought a direction to Kejriwal to discharge his chief ministerial responsibilities as the functioning of the Chief Minister’s Office has come to a “standstill” since the sit-in started.
The plea argued that taxpayers’ money was being wasted for a constitutional bargain by the chief minister. “...The Chief Minister of NCT of Delhi is flouting the fundamental law of the country despite having taken an oath under the constitution of India,” the petition claimed.
The plea further said that there was no statutory or legal provision empowering the chief minster to go on the sit-in.
On Thursday, Kejriwal urged Modi to intervene in the alleged strike by Indian Administrative Service officers, claiming that Baijal was doing “nothing” to resolve the matter. He claimed that work such as cleaning drains before the monsoon, setting up mohalla clinics, and measures to curb air pollution in the city are stuck because of the alleged strike.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!