LG Overturns Govt’s Rejection of Lawyer Panel Chosen by Delhi Cops

L-G used his special powers under Article 239A(4) citing “differences of opinion” with the government.

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday, 30 July overruled the decision taken by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s Cabinet over the appointment of a panel of advocates to represent the Delhi Police in cases related to the northeast Delhi riots.

What Is the Issue?

On 10 July, the Delhi Police had proposed the names of six special public prosecutors to argue 85 cases related to the northeast Delhi riots and anti-CAA protests. The Arvind Kejriwal’s Cabinet rejected this panel of lawyers.

The Aam Aadmi Party on 19 July had alleged that the Delhi violence, which killed 53 people in February, was "engineered" by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It questioned why the BJP was so “desperate to engage them in the riots case.”