HC directs CS Anshu Prakash, 2 officers to appear before Delhi Assembly panel

The Delhi High Court today directed Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and two other officers to appear before the committees of Delhi Legislative Assembly, which had issued notices to them, warning them of contempt if they did not do so.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru warned the Chief Secretary and two other IAS officers that the court could issue contempt action against them if they failed to appear before the panels, saying they are officers and will have to appear before all the committees.

The order came after the counsel for Delhi Legislative Assembly, the Speaker and two panels informed the court that the three officers were neither appearing before the committees, nor giving reply to the information sought from them.

Senior advocate Sudhir Nandrajog, appearing for Legislative Assembly, Speaker and two panels, argued that the bureaucrats were taking "advantage" of the court's earlier order restraining the authorities from taking action against them.

The high court had on March 9 asked the committees not to take coercive steps against the IAS officers.

In today's order, the bench said "it is clarified that the petitioners (bureaucrats) shall participate in the proceedings of the panels without prejudice to their rights and contentions."
When advocate Vivek Chib, appearing for the bureaucrats, tried to explain the matter and said the chief secretary should not be asked to appear before the Privileges Committee, the court said, "where is the question of you not appearing? Differences between the central government and the state government are different. As an officer, you will have to appear before the Privileges Committee."