The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought the stand of the Lieutenant Governor on the Delhi government think tank Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi's Vice Chairman Jasmine Shah's challenge to the order restraining him from discharging his duties and sealing his office.
Justice Yashwant Varma listed the case for further consideration on November 28 and asked the counsel appearing for the LG and other respondents to make submissions on that date.
Bearing in mind the question which arises, let the standing counsel appearing for respondents obtain instructions, the judge said.
Mr Shah has challenged the November 17 order issued by Director (Planning), Delhi government, on the LG's request to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to remove him from the post of Vice Chairperson of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD), and pending such a decision, to restrain him from using his office space and withdraw the staff and facilities assigned to him.
Besides LG Vinai Kumar Saxena, the other respondents are Director (Planning), Chairman of DDCD i.e. the Delhi Chief Minister and Sub Divisional Magistrate (Civil Lines).
"Come back on Monday. We will hear this," said the court, as it observed it will have to examine the scope of LG's power to pass the directions in question.
"You (counsel for LG and others) have heard what has transpired. So you can also address submissions (on the next date). We are only concerned with the challenge to the jurisdiction which has been assumed by the honourable LG... What will have to be considered is the scope of power that the LG can exercise," the court added.
The Delhi government's standing counsel Sanotsh Kumar Tripathi appeared for the respondents. Senior lawyer Rajiv Nayar, appearing for Mr Shah, argued the petitioner was appointed pursuant to a decision of the Delhi cabinet and his appointment was coterminous with the term of the present government. The LG, he contended, has no power to restrain him from performing his duties.
In his petition, Mr Shah has said the orders passed against him are a "gross abuse of power and process", wholly without any merit, an instance of colourable exercise of authority, illegal, ex facie malafide and patently lacking in jurisdiction.
He has also assailed orders locking his office and withdrawing all facilities as well as privileges.
Mr Shah was behind the Delhi government's ambitious electric vehicle policy and is the Vice Chairman of the think tank involved in drawing blueprints of various initiatives of the city government, including its food truck policy, electronic city, and shopping festival, among others.
He enjoys the rank of a cabinet minister and is entitled to perks and privileges of a Delhi government minister like official accommodation, office, vehicle, and personal staff.
The DDCD offices were sealed on the night of November 17 for preventing its alleged "misuse by Shah for political gains". The sealing exercise was undertaken by the Planning Department of the Delhi government.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Featured Video Of The Day
Serial Terror In Jammu: Time For India To Redraw Strategy?
Delhi Rains: Lt Governor Holds Emergency Meeting, Officials' Leave Cancelled Lt Governor Sacks 223 From Delhi Women Panel, AAP's Swati Maliwal Replies Delhi Lt Governor Seeks Probe Into Congress Leader's Remarks On Actor What Trump Rally Shooter Did On Last Day Of His Life Under-Fire Trainee IAS Officer Accuses Pune Collector Of Harassment Anand Mahindra Shares Picture Of US Senator's Indian Wedding, Calls It... Four In Five Americans Fear Country Is Sliding Into Chaos: Polls Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450 Launched In India; Prices Start At Rs. 2.39 Lakh Admission Deadline Extended For EWS And Special Needs Children Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.