The Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against Chief Minister Atishi for allowing Aam Aadmi party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia and his family members to use the government allotted bungalow.
The Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela refused to pass any order on the petition filed by one Sanjeev Jain, who claimed to be a social worker and an RTI activist.
The High Court noted that in case violation of any rule had taken place, the concerned authorities were fully competent to take requisite action.
The PIL contended that a government bungalow was allotted to Sisodia, when he was a Cabinet Minister in the Delhi government. The house was later allotted to Atishi in March 2023 after the former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi was arrested in connection with the Excise Policy scam case.
The PIL claimed that the bungalow was allotted to Atishi when she was only a Minister in the government. She took over as the Chief Minister when AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal resigned from the post.
As per the plea, Atishi never raised any objection against Sisodia’s entire family residing in the government bungalow, even after he resigned from his post.
Jain sought action against Atishi and recovery of damages on the grounds that the action of the Delhi Chief Minister in allowing Sisodia to reside in her government bungalow was a clear-cut ‘misuse’ of government property.
It further termed the same as a ‘sharp’ violation of settled rules and regulation for allotment & vacation of the Government Property.
The PIL alleged that Atishi had extended gainful benefit to Sisodia for getting high rank in her political party and for getting more faith of Sisodia. Such type of practice could not be committed for personal benefit to show her loyalty towards her political party on the stake of a Government Property, added the plea.