Team News Riveting
New Delhi, October 12
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed the public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the Commissioner of Delhi Police
The Bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh pronounced the judgment after it had reserved the verdict on September 27.
Asthana’s appointment was contended on the ground that he had been appointed for one year, when the previous judgment said it had to be for two years. As per the judgment in the case Prakash Singh vs Union of India, there has to be a residual tenure of six months for being appointed as police chief, which was not followed in this case, the Court was told.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had led the arguments for the Central government. He contended that the Prakash Singh judgment applies only to Directors General of Police (DGPs) of states, and not the Police Commissioner of Delhi. Asthana was appointed to the post in the public interest since he had the experience required, he said, inter alia.
In view of the same, Mehta argued that the plagiarised petition is an abuse of process of law and a manifest outcome of personal vendetta.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi had made arguments on behalf of Asthana. Rohatgi opposed the petition on the ground that it was not genuine and only a proxy plea. He also alleged that social media campaigns were being conducted against Asthana by Advocate Bhushan and argued that the challenge was motivated.
The Delhi Vidhan Sabha had also passed a resolution challenging Asthana’s appointment and urged the Centre to withdraw it.
