Relief for Sheila, HC junks plea against Presidential order

The Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a petition that sought to quash a Presidential order absolving the Sheila Dikshit government of allegations of misrepresenting facts. Soibam Rocky Singh reports.

In a major relief to CM Sheila Dikshit in the run-up to the 2008 Assembly elections, the Delhi high court on Friday dismissed a petition that sought to quash a Presidential order absolving her government of allegations of misrepresenting facts.

A bench of Justices BD Ahmed and Vibhu Bakhru dismissed a petition filed by advocate Sunita Bhardwaj, who had alleged that Dikshit was let off easily even though the Delhi Lokayukta had recommended action against her.

The case pertains to an announcement made by the Dikshit government in 2008 that 60,000 low-cost flats were ready for being handed over to poor people under the Rajiv Ratan Awas Yojna.

Later, the government in an RTI reply said that till September 25, 2008, even the process of land acquisition had not started for the flats.

Advocate Bhardwaj pursued the issue with the Lokayukta. The anti-corruption watchdog forwarded a report to the then President in July 2011, recommending to censure her for making false representations.

The President, however, vindicated the chief minister but warned the Delhi urban development department to be “more careful in preparing such publications”.