A Delhi court recently rejected Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s plea for additional legal meetings while he is in jail, highlighting concerns about the alleged misuse of legal consultations. The court emphasized that the rules apply equally to all inmates, including Kejriwal, who reportedly used these meetings to issue administrative directives.
Special judge Kaveri Baweja, overseeing cases related to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED), denied Kejriwal’s request for five legal meetings per week. The judge noted that Kejriwal failed to demonstrate that he solely utilized the permitted two legal meetings each week for discussing pending litigations with his counsel.
The court referred to a Delhi High Court judgment affirming the right of every Indian citizen to legal protection, applying this principle to Kejriwal’s case. It dismissed Kejriwal’s argument about multiple pending cases, citing the lack of specific details about these cases.
Furthermore, the judge criticized Kejriwal’s request for additional meetings as “whimsical” and lacking objective criteria for assessment. The court emphasized that special privileges cannot be granted without a clear basis or statistical evidence.
The ED, opposing Kejriwal’s application, alleged that the legal interviews were being misused for purposes other than consultation, highlighting concerns about attempts to govern from inside the jail.
In response to these developments, Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asserted his ability to govern from jail, indicating that instructions on governance matters were issued by Kejriwal despite his confinement.
This case underscores the legal complexities surrounding Kejriwal’s incarceration and the challenges of maintaining transparency and accountability in legal processes, particularly regarding privileged communication and administrative directives.
Sources By Agencies