High court stays PWD’s eviction notice to Delhi think tank vice chief

While staying the eviction order of April 23, the judge said that she was shocked to see such conduct given the fact that a case against the lieutenant governor (LG) order withdrawing Shah’s privileges is already pending before the court

The Delhi high court on Friday put on hold an order asking Jasmine Shah, vice chairperson of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD), a policy think tank of the state government, to vacate his government accommodation.

The fresh application was filed in the pending plea by Shah challenging the sealing of his office on November 17, 2022 by SDM Civil Lines following an order from the Delhi government planning department. (Representative image/Shutterstock)

Justice Prathiba M Singh passed the order while hearing an application by Shah seeking to restrain the authorities from implementing the eviction order, which had called Shah an “unauthorised applicant”.

While staying the eviction order of April 23, the judge said that she was shocked to see such conduct given the fact that a case against the lieutenant governor (LG) order withdrawing Shah’s privileges is already pending before the court.

“On the last date, we adjourned the main matter. This case is part-heard here. I am very surprised with this,” the court observed.

The fresh application was filed in the pending plea by Shah challenging the sealing of his office on November 17, 2022 by SDM Civil Lines following an order from the Delhi government planning department.

Earlier, the court had said that Shah ought to wait for the outcome of the reference made to the President on this issue and posted the matter for May 24.

On Friday, additional solicitor general (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the LG, submitted that the eviction order, passed by the PWD, is an integral part of the original order passed on November 30, last year by which the issue has been referred to the President.

The matter would be heard on May 24.