New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday will look into a plea challenging the appointment of IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner. A bench headed by Chief Justice DN Patel will hear the matter.
On 16 September, the Central Government in its reply to the court had defended the appointment of Asthana. The Centre told the court that the appointment of the Gujarat-cadre IPS officer as Delhi Police Commissioner was taken in the interest of the general public, keeping in mind the diverse law and order challenges faced in the national capital, which have national security implications as well as international/cross border implications.
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The Centre has contended that the plea by Sadre Alam, a lawyer, is an "abuse of process of law and manifestly an outcome of some personal vendetta" while submitting that a PIL in service matter is not maintainable.
On September 1, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta on behalf of the Central Government said, "The petitioner is following the path of Prashant Bhushan. This is a dangerous trend. What is the need for petitioners to challenge the appointment of someone? Where do they draw inspiration from? The court should also hear the officer whose appointment has been challenged."
Also read: Rakesh Asthana appointed as Delhi CP in public interest: Centre tells HC
Earlier, on August 24, Prashant Bhushan had said that he had filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the appointment of Asthana to the post of Delhi Police Commissioner. However, on August 25, the Supreme Court refused to hear Prashant Bhushan's petition and directed the Delhi High Court to decide within two weeks the plea pending. The Supreme Court also directed Bhushan to speak in the High Court.
