Prez approves L-G’S list of 11 special public prosecutors
NEW DELHI: Delhi’s home department has issued a notification regarding the appointment of 11 special public prosecutors (SPPS) for all cases related to the February riots in north-east Delhi after President Ram Nath Kovind signed on the list approved by Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal.
Kovind’s intervention was required after Delhi Police, which comes under the L-G, and the state’s elected Aam Aadmi Party government were locked in confrontation over the appointment of the special public prosecutors. While the L-G approved the panel of the public prosecutors proposed by the Delhi Police, the Delhi government rejected it and created its own.
The L-G , on May 29, referred the matter to President Kovind for reference. In case of a difference between the state’s elected government and the L-G, the latter has to refer the matter to the President, whose decision is binding on both.
Senior police officers said on condition of anonymity that the
President gave his decision in favour of the L-G, after which a notification was issued on Wednesday (June 24). HT has reviewed a copy of the appointment order.
A media advisor to CM Arvind Kejriwal said the government has to respect the President’s decision. “Since the President has approved the panel recommended by the Police, the government has no option but to abide by the decision.”
The L-G’S office did not respond to calls and messages seeking a comment on the matter.
The notification, signed by Delhi’s deputy secretary (home) Pawan Kumar, says the appointment of the SPPS has been done exercising “the powers conferred by sub-section (8) of section 24 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 (2 of 1974) read with the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs notification...”
The 11 appointed SPPS are Manoj Chaudhary, Rajiv Krishna Sharma, Nitin Raj Sharma, Devender Kumar Bhatia, Naresh Kumar Gaur, Amit Prasad, Jinendra Jain, Anuj Handa, Ram Chander Singh Bhadoria, Uttam Datt and Salim Ahmad.
“We have received the list of 11 special public prosecutors through the notification. They will represent us (Delhi Police) in the courts in the north-east Delhi riots cases,” said Delhi Police spokesperson Mandeep Singh Randhawa. The appointed SPPS will start appearing in the courts from June 27, said an officer from the Delhi Police’s legal cell, requesting anonymity.
The confrontation between the L-G and the Delhi government over the appointment of SPPS began in April. A senior police officer said the police sent to the L-G’S office the list of a panel of public prosecutors.
The L-G endorsed it and the file was sent to home minister Satyendar Jain. The government suggested that a panel of “independent and technically qualified” SPPS be appointed. Jain formed a fresh panel and issued orders on April 16.
The Delhi Police submitted a second list on April 24. Jain reiterated his order of notifying his panel. He met the L-G on May 21, but the differences persisted. The L-G wrote to the government on May 23 and later sought President’s intervention.