HC declares Binny independent legislator
In a big relief to expelled AAP MlA Vinod Kumar Binny, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday declared him an independent legislator. This comes after Binny was expelled from Aam Aadmi Party and Delhi Assembly Speaker MS Dhir’s statement on February 12, saying that despite his expulsion from the party, he will have to follow the party whip in any transaction of business on the floor of the House. Justice Manmohan considered the Supreme Court’s judgement of 2010, by which expelled Samajwadi Party leaders Amar Singh and Jaya Prada were granted protection against the disqualification and treated them as independent lawmakers. “This court is of the opinion that the petitioner’s right (for a relief) should not be curtailed,” said the court. “In view of the aforesaid judgement, the operation of the letter issued by Assembly Speaker is stayed till next date of hearing, i.e. March 4,” the court said and issued notices to the Speaker of the House and Aam Aadmi Party.
Set up SIT to probe ’84 riots: Kejri to l-G
AAP’s convener and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung to set in motion the process of setting up the Special Investigation Team (SIT) for probing the 1984 anti-Sikh riots by officially notifying it. “Some of the witnesses are already old and setting up of the SIT is perhaps their last hope of getting justice in this country. Therefore I request you to kindly expedite the setting up of this team,” Kejriwal said in a letter addressed to Jung. The AAP Government on February 6 had recommended to l-G for setting up SIT to probe the anti-Sikh riots with a time frame of one year to submit its report.
defamation case: HC seeks Kejri’s reply
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on a plea of a Congress MP seeking damages of `1 crore from the AAP leader on the grounds that he has been defamed. “Issue notice to respondent. Original documents pertaining to the suit be filed within four weeks,” said Justice AK Pathak while fixing the petition filed by Faridabad MP Avtar Singh Bhadana for hearing on May 6. The court, however, refused to pass any interim order on the petition of the lawmaker saying “people are winning elections even from jail. Common public is not so bothered about all this.”