BackDelhi HC allows Meena to continue as Anti-Corruption Bureau chief
The state government's plea to include Meena as a party to the case was also quashed by the court
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New Delhi: In a setback to Delhi government, the Delhi high court on Monday said that joint commissioner of police (JCP) Mukesh Kumar Meena can continue as the chief of anti-corruption bureau. Justice
V.P. Vaish also quashed the state government’s plea to include Meena as a party to the case.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) through their standing counsel Raman Duggal had approached the court for the removal of Meena as chief of ACB claiming that his appointment by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung was illegal as the council of ministers was not consulted. The counsel had further pleaded the court to restrain Meena from entering the office of the ACB.
The counsel argued that as the centre’s representative in Delhi, Jung did not have the right to appoint bureaucrats. Further, such appointment must be done on the aid and advise of the chief minister, which was not done in this case.
“ACB comes under the vigilance department and forms part of the Delhi government which runs the national capital territory (NCT). It must be seen that nowhere in the 2014 notification does it say that the ACB does not fall under the Delhi government" Duggal alleged.
It was pointed out that as per the order dated 8 June, 2013, Meena was appointed to “look after" the work of the joint commissioner and that he was overreaching the bounds of his authority.
It was alleged that Meena had been trying to threaten and overthrow the working of the system by asking Ravindra Yadav, additional commissioner of police (ACP), to hand over the first information report book to him.
Earlier, three complaints on Meena’s alleged high-handed behaviour to the Delhi’s government’s department of vigilance were forwarded by ACP Yadav. Meena had even sanctioned for paramilitary forces and has been keeping Central Reserve Police Force, Rajasthan police on the ACB premises. “Keeping of armed personnel is not constitutionally legal and the constant pressurizing by M.K Meena is threatening to the working of the body," said standing counsel for the petitioner.
The question of the validity of the appointment of Meena will be addressed and setlled by the Supreme Court on 11 August.
In an order issued by the central government on 28 April, the ministry of home affairs had extended M.K. Meena’s term for three months ending on 7 July. He is under order to be transferred to Arunachal Pradesh. An official in the Delhi government said that the transfer is still valid.
Commenting on the High Court stand, member of the legislative assembly from Malviya Nagar constituency Somnath Bharti told reporters, “If High Court served notice to government of India (regarding Meena’s appointment), it clearly indicates that contentions put forth by us have merits. Let the courts decide on merit."
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