Complying with SC order on advertisements: AAP govt to HC

The Aam Aadmi Party government today told Delhi High Court that it was complying with Supreme Court's directions on government advertisements in "letter and spirit".

The submission was made before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath by the Delhi government which also said the Centre was yet to set up a committee to oversee release of advertisements by governments and their agencies, as directed by the apex court.

The city government's senior standing counsel, Rahul Mehra, told the court that the Centre and various states have filed a petition seeking review of the SC verdict.

Meanwhile, NGO Nyayaa Path, represented by senior advocate Chetan Sharma, told the court that the city administration was releasing an advertisement every time there was some untoward incident.

Citing the example of a girl who was stabbed to death in Anand Parbat area of north Delhi in July, Sharma said the Delhi government had released advertisements saying the 19- year-old girl was stabbed more than 30 times, while forensic reports had showed she was stabbed only four times.

He also told the high court that the review plea has been filed in the apex court with regard to whose photographs can be displayed on the advertisements issued by governments.

After hearing brief arguments on the petitions of the NGO and others including Congress leader Ajay Maken alleging that Delhi government has violated the apex court directions, the bench listed the matters for further hearing on December one.