‘Public money can’t be used to defend Kejri’

Public money cannot be used to defend chief minister Arvind Kejriwal for statements made in his personal capacity against Union minister Arun Jaitley, a senior law officer has advised Delhi’s lieutenant governor Anil Baijal.

The legal opinion by the law officer was tendered in response to several queries by the lieutenant governor on whether statements by Kejriwal against Jaitley were in his official capacity and should a special lawyer be provided to the chief minister at the expense of the state exchequer.

Replying to both the queries in the ‘negative’, additional solicitor general (ASG) Sanjay Jain has said the statements made by Kejriwal on his personal Twitter account “have no connection” with his official or public duties and were “distinctly in his individual or personal capacity”.

The ASG, in a 14-page opinion, has also said that under the Constitution, “it is impermissible to use public money for a private purpose” and since Kejriwal was being sued in his individual capacity, “public money cannot be used to defend the chief minister for his statements made in his personal capacity”.

He has advised the L-G to not approve the proposal for appointment of senior advocate Ram Jethmalani to defend Kejriwal and pay the lawyer out of the government coffers.

“The position of a CM or for that matter as government servant is that of a trustee of public money. Public money can spent only in accordance with law and procedures prescribed and must ensure the highest level of financial discipline,” the ASG has said.

Jethmalani has been representing Kejriwal in the civil defamation case filed by Jaitley in the Delhi High Court against Kejriwal and five other AAP leaders over allegations of graft when the Union minister was the president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association from 2000 to 2013. PTI