Kejriwal placed his political interest over national interest: HC

The High Court on Friday pulled up the Delhi government, saying that Arvind Kejriwal had, by continuing to remain the Chief Minister even after his arrest, placed his political interest over national interest.

The court made the observations while hearing a plea by NGO Social Jurist, highlighting the non-supply of books to students in MCD-run schools even after the commencement of the new academic session.

In a statement, AAP said the MCD’s works had been stopped due to the non-formation of the Standing Committee. “The matter concerning the non-formation of Standing Committee, the highest decisionmaking body of the MCD, is pending before the Supreme Court,” it added.

In response to the petition, the Delhi government counsel told the court that the supply of textbooks requires certain approvals by Mr. Kejriwal, who is in judicial custody in an alleged money laundering case related to the now-scrapped excise policy.

“I am sorry to say you have placed your interest above the interest of the students. That is very clear and we are going to give that ”nding that you have placed your political interest on a higher pedestal,” a Bench of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet P.S. Arora observed.

“It is the personal call of the Chief Minister if he wants the administration to be paralysed,” the Bench remarked.

“The choice was yours that the Chief Minster will continue despite being in jail. We will have to say this. This is your administration’s will. You are asking us to go down that track and we will come with full vigour,” the Bench added.

“I don’t know how much power you want. The problem is because you are trying to appropriate power, you are not getting power,” it also said.

The Delhi government counsel said he was not appearing for the Chief Minister and assured the court that textbooks will be distributed to the students if the MCD Commissioner makes a formal request for approvals even in the absence of the Standing Committee.

The MCD Commissioner had earlier stated that books had not been distributed due to the non-formation of the panel, which has the power to award contracts worth over ₹5 crore.