The Delhi High Court on Friday castigated Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi government and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for their failure to provide textbooks to over 2 lakh students.A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice (ACJ) Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora said that Delhi government is only interested in appropriation of power and by not resigning despite his arrest in the Delhi Excise Policy money laundering case, Arvind Kejriwal has put personal interest over the national interest."As a court, distribution of books, uniforms etc… this is not our job. We are doing this because someone is failing in their job…. Your client is just interested in power. I don’t know how much power do you want? The problem is because you are trying to appropriate power which is why you are not getting power," the Court said.Delhi government counsel Shadan Farasat submitted that he received instructions from Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj that in absence of Standing Committee of MCD, delegating more powers to an appropriate authority would require the consent of the Chief Minister who is presently in custody.To this submission, ACJ Manmohan replied that the same cannot be an excuse and also said that the High Court itself had rejected various petitions seeking directions to remove Arvind Kejriwal as CM."It is your choice that you have said that the government will continue despite the Chief Minister being in custody. You are forcing us to go down the road which we didn't want to go. We have said it so may times in the PILs that came before us. But this is your administration's call... If you want us to comment on it, we will come down with all the rigour," the Court said.The Court was hearing a public interest litigation petition (PIL) filed by an organisation named Social Jurist raising the issue that the students studying in MCD schools have not received textbooks and were studying in tin sheds because of the logjam in the civic body.During the previous hearing of the case, the MCD Commissioner had joined the proceedings and informed the Bench nearly two lakh students do not have any bank account, uniform and, therefore, stationery reimbursement has not been made to these students.He had stated that one of the major reasons for non-distribution of notebooks, stationery items, uniforms and school bags is ‘non-formation of Standing Committees’ and that only Standing Committee has the power and jurisdiction to award contracts worth more than ₹5 crores.The Court had then observed that there cannot be a vacuum and if the Standing Committee is not available for any reason, the financial power needs to be delegated to an appropriate authority by the Delhi government.The Bench had ordered the government to do the needful in two working days.During today's hearing, ACJ Manmohan also commented on the conduct of Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj and said that he has turned a blind eye to the plight of students and is shedding crocodile tears.Justice Manmohan added that he will put Saurabh Bhardwaj's name in the order as well.Farasat said that the reason MCD does not have a standing committee is because the LG appointed aldermen illegally and the Supreme Court is seized of the matter.Farasat also submitted that the Delhi government does not have much power anyways.To this, the Court remarked that the Delhi government is least bothered about students not going to school or having textbooks."All that you are interested in is power. This is arrogance of power at its highest," the Court added.The Court warned the government to not underestimate it."Don't underestimate our guts. You are underestimating our power... You are putting children as a trading point, they are not a trading commodity for us," it stated.ACJ Manmohan added that the Delhi government's stand in the case is an admission that things are very bad in Delhi and that almost every major aspect under the MCD is stalled.Ultimately, it reserved its order in the matter and said that the judgement will be pronounced on Monday.Kejriwal was arrested on March 21 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on allegations that he was the "key conspirator" in the money laundering case connected with the alleged Delhi excise policy scam.The arrest took place hours after his plea for interim protection from arrest was rejected by the Delhi High Court.On March 22, Kejriwal was produced by the ED before judge Baweja, who initially remanded the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader to ED custody till March 28.On March 28, Kejriwal's ED custody was extended further.Finally, on April 1, Kejriwal was remanded to judicial custody till April 15. It was then extended till April 23 and subsequently extended till May 7.
TAGS: Delhi High Court Arvind Kejriwal Delhi government Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) textbooks
