Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Seeks Recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma in High Court Case
Who is Delhi HC's Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, whom Arvind Kejriwal wants off his case
Hindustan Times
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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal requested the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from his case regarding the Delhi excise policy. He argued that the judge's previous rulings and affiliations raised concerns of bias, particularly after her recent decisions in similar high-profile cases involving Aam Aadmi Party leaders.
- 01Arvind Kejriwal personally argued for Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma's recusal in the Delhi High Court.
- 02Justice Sharma has over three decades of judicial experience and was appointed as a permanent judge in March 2022.
- 03Kejriwal cited concerns of bias due to Justice Sharma's past rulings and her attendance at events associated with the ruling BJP's lawyer body.
- 04Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the recusal plea, warning it could set a dangerous precedent.
- 05Justice Sharma has reserved her decision on the recusal requests from Kejriwal and others.
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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appeared in the Delhi High Court on Monday to argue for the recusal of Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma from his ongoing case related to the Delhi excise policy. Justice Sharma, who has a judicial career spanning over 30 years, was appointed as a permanent judge on March 28, 2022. Kejriwal raised concerns regarding potential bias, citing Justice Sharma's previous rulings against him and other Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders, including the rejection of bail pleas for Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh. He argued that her decisions appeared to favor the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and questioned her impartiality due to her attendance at events organized by a lawyers' body affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Solicitor General Tushar Mehta countered that allowing the recusal would set a dangerous precedent, as judges often participate in bar association events. Justice Sharma has reserved her verdict on the matter.
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The outcome of this recusal plea could significantly affect the ongoing legal proceedings involving Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, potentially influencing public perception of judicial impartiality.
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