New Delhi [India], April 18 : A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been moved in Delhi High Court seeking direction to grant extraordinary interim bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in all the criminal cases.
The plea stated that, to fulfill the responsibilities of the Chief Minister of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, the physical presence of Arvind Kejriwal is required in his office and home "24 Hours X 7 days a week" to take quick decisions for the welfare of the public at large.
A Chief Minister is also required to pass so many orders or directions on different issues and problems on daily basis, which is not possible from jail or from judicial custody, the plea stated.
The plea moved by a law student further stated that a Chief Minister is also required to make inspections of various government schools, government hospitals, government offices, Colonies of the State etc on a daily basis just to see the actual situation of all of them, so he or she can pass proper and required orders/directions, if required, which is also not possible from jail or from judicial custody.
It also stated that there is no allegation till Thursday that Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of the NCT of Delhi or his family members or associates has threatened any witness in any manner, hence there is no possibility for the same in near future too.
Recently one more PIL was moved in Delhi High Court seeking direction to Director General (Prisons), Prisons to provide arrangements for efficient governance of Delhi by allowing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to hold video conferencing with assembly members and cabinet ministers.
That plea also seeks direction to the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to restrain the media from airing alleged misleading, sensational headings related to imposing President's Rule in Delhi.
Recently, the Delhi High Court has dismissed three public interest litigations seeking direction to remove Arvind Kejriwal from holding the post of Chief Minister.
While dismissing the third petition, which was filed by former Cabinet Minister of Delhi, the court had also imposed Rs 50,000 fine on the petitioner and said that "Stop making mockery of the system. Costs are the only way to curb such petitions."
The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora showed displeasure with the petitioner and stated that Governor will take a call on this.
"We won't. Don't give political speeches in court. You're trying to involve us in political thicket," the bench said.
A former Minister from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former MLA has recently moved a petition in Delhi High Court, seeking the removal of Arvind Kejriwal from holding the post of Chief Minister.
The petition claiming a writ of quo-warranto against Arvind Kejriwal alleged that he has incurred the incapacity to hold the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi after the arrest by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in the Delhi Excise Policy case.
Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the ED in relation to the Delhi Excise Policy case.
The trial court, on April 15, extended the judicial custody of Arvind Kejriwal till April 23. The ED alleged that the Aam Adami Party (AAP) is the major beneficiary of the proceeds of crime generated in the alleged liquor scam.