The Delhi high court on April 26 lambasted chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for failing to provide textbooks to over 2 lakh students.
According to Bar & Bench, the court called Kejriwal-led Delhi government power hungry. The Delhi HC also criticized the AAP chief for not resigning from the chief minister’s post despite his arrest in the excise policy case.
Pulling up the Delhi government for failing to do its duties, the division bench said, "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 was hearing a public interest litigation petition (PIL) filed by an organization ‘Social Jurist’ which raised the issue that students of MCD schools have not received textbooks and were studying in tin sheds because of the logjam in the civic body.
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.
Commenting on the conduct of Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, Acting Chief Justice Manmohan said that he has turned a blind eye to the plight of students and is shedding crocodile tears.
During the previous hearing, MCD commissioner 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’. He told the court that only Standing Committee has the power and jurisdiction to award contracts worth more than Rs 5 crore.
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 in a money laundering case connected with the Delhi excise policy scam.
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