Declare Kejriwal's sit-in protest illegal: PIL

A Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Delhi High Court on Thursday seeking to declare the sit-in protest at the Lt. Governor's office by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues un-constitutional and illegal as it has brought the government machinery to a standstill.

The petition, filed by Delhi based lawyer Hari Nath Ram through his advocates Shashank Deo Sudhi and Shashi Bhushan, is likely to be heard next week.

"Issue direction for discharging the Chief Ministerial obligations and responsibilities as the entire functioning of the Chief Minister Office of Delhi has been brought to a standstill ever since the strike was called on," Advocate Sudhi requested the court.

The framing of comprehensive guidelines to ensure legislators do not indulge in un-constitutional acts has also been sought.

"The politicians are required to be upholders of the constitution. They should not be the breakers of the constitutional law. The instant circumstances are the illustration of chaotic administrative paralysis which urgently requires to be streamlined," the plea read.

The sit-in protest at the Lt. Governor's office by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues entered its fourth day on Thursday while the hunger strike by Health Minister Satyendar Jain entered day two and that by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia completed a day.

Kejriwal, Sisodia, Jain and Gopal Rai have been camping in the Raj Niwas, the official accommodation-cum-office of Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, since Monday evening.

The Chief Minister said he and his colleagues would not leave Baijal's office until their demands, which include direction to IAS officers to end their "strike", action against officers who have struck work for "four months" and approval to his government's proposal for doorstep delivery of ration to the poor were met.

--IANS

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