Delhi HC Asks LG, AAP Govt to Reply to Plea Filed by Anshu Prakash

The Delhi HC asked for replies to be filed within two weeks, matter to be heard on 11 April.

Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has alleged that AAP MLAs attacked him inside Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on 19 February.

(Photo: Altered by Erum Gour/The Quint)

The Delhi High Court (HC) on Monday, 5 March, issued notice to Lieutenant Governor (LG), Delhi government, Privileges Committee and Question and Answer Committee of Delhi Assembly to respond on a plea filed by Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and asked them to file replies within two weeks, reported ANI.

The matter, an alleged physical tussle between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs and Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, will be heard on 11 April.

According to PTI, the court also said that efforts should have been made by the "sides" of both the AAP government and Prakash to "assuage tempers" and breach of privilege notices such as those issued by the Delhi Assembly panel "add fuel to the fire".

A bench of Justices GS Sistani and Sangita Dhingra Sehgal said Prakash was the chief secretary and asked how things would work if he was not respected.

"Efforts should have been made to assuage tempers on both the sides. Such notices add fuel to the fire," the bench observed.

"He is your chief secretary. If you do not respect him then how will things work. Was there no other way of calling him?” it asked, as reported by PTI.

The counsel for the AAP government responded by asking how the government would get information regarding the administration if the chief secretary refused to cooperate.

The court was hearing the chief secretary's plea challenging a breach of privilege notice issued to him by Delhi Assembly privilege committee for allegedly skipping a meeting called by the panel.

During the hearing, which remained inconclusive and will continue after lunch, the high court said the matter should have come up before a single judge bench.

Appearing for the chief secretary, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra said, "When people like Amanatullah Khan are in the committee, what purpose will be served by attending such meetings." Khan is currently in jail along with another MLA, Prakash Jarwal, for allegedly assaulting the senior bureaucrat.

(With inputs from ANI and PTI)

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