Delhi excise case: Arvind Kejriwal refuses to appear in court before Judge who refused to recuse
Delhi excise case: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday refused to appear before Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma who refused to recuse from the plea challenging his acquittal in the excise policy.
Writing to Justice Sharma, Kejriwal said he had lost faith in her ability to deliver justice. Kejriwal's letter comes days after Justice Sharma turned down a plea filed by the former Delhi Chief Minister seeking her recusal in the case.
Meanwhile Kejriwal has also accused the judge of conflict of interest, claiming that Justice Swarna's children have direct links with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and directly work with central government.
"I have written the following letter to Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma, informing her that pursuing Gandhian principles of Satyagraha, it won’t be possible for me to pursue this case in her court, either in person or through counsel," Kejriwal wrote.
He added, "I have taken this difficult decision after coming to the clear conclusion that the proceedings being conducted in her court do not, in any manner, satisfy the fundamental principle that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done".
However such a move can land Arving Kejriwal into legal troubles and issuance of a warrant against him.
Kejriwal's decision follows Justice Sharma's refussal to recuse from the herself from hearing the case linked to Delhi excise policy, refuting allegations levelled by the AAP leader.
In a strong-worded order, the court underlined the principle of judicial independence and rejected claims that the proceedings would not be impartial.
"My oath is to the Constitution. My oath has taught me that justice does not bend under pressure. Justice does not yield to any pressure. I will decide and adjudicate fearlessly without any bias. I will not recuse from this case," Justice Sharma said while delivering her ruling.
- With inputs from agencies
