Delhi high court seeks Centre's reply on Rakesh Asthana’s selection

On August 25, the apex court gave Bhushan the liberty to file an intervening application in the high court after it was informed that a similar matter was pending there. It has adjourned the matter for two weeks.

The Delhi high court on Wednesday asked for the Centre’s response on a plea challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police commissioner, even as Solicitor general of India Tushar Mehta said that “intermeddlers” not be allowed to file such petitions.

The plea challenged appointment of Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Police commissioner. (Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

A bench of chief justice DN Patel and justice Jyoti Singh issued notice on the pleas, by one Sadre Alam and an intervention application by the Centre for Public Litigation through Prashant Bhushan.

On August 25, the apex court gave Bhushan the liberty to file an intervening application in the high court after it was informed that a similar matter was pending there. It has adjourned the matter for two weeks.

Bhushan on Wednesday said Alam’s petition was a copy-paste of the plea that he filed in the SC. Bhushan said, “Prayer in my application was just to take it on record after we were granted liberty by the SC…My petition is pending in the SC.”

Solicitor general Mehta, appearing for the Centre, said, “...Mr Alam seems to have copied and followed the dangerous path of Mr Bhushan (NGO’s counsel). The debutant should be stopped here and now.” He also said the petitioner must be investigated. When the court asked advocate BS Bagga, Alam’s counsel, if the petition was copied, he replied in negative. The bench posted the matter for further hearing on September 8.