HC reserves verdict on Somnath Bharti's appeal

The Delhi High Court today reserved its verdict on AAP leader Somnath Bharti's appeal against dismissal of his plea challenging an order of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in connection with the controversial midnight raid early this year.
"Judgement reserved," a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice P S Teji said after hearing the arguments of Bharti's lawyer Deepak Khosla.
The bench had initially suggested listing the matter after a week so that the other side, the respondents, were also present during arguments but Khosla persisted that the matter be heard today as he had already informed the counsel for the respondents, including the Centre, Delhi government and NHRC.

Thereafter, the court heard the arguments and said it will pass orders later.
In his appeal, Bharti has contended that the single judge of the High Court had dismissed his plea as "premature" without "allowing fair opportunity to explain the facts of the situation before the NHRC and the legal grounds on which the writ petition was eminently maintainable".
"He (single judge) did not duly appreciate that the writ petition did not merely seek redressal against the order dated September 29, 2014, but also against its ensuing consequences i.E. The defamation caused to the appellant," the petition has said.

Apart from seeking quashing of the court's December 23 order, the petition has also sought that NHRC's September 29 order be declared a "nullity".

It has also sought a compensation of Rs 100 crore from the Centre, NHRC and the city government.
The Commission had, through its September 29 order, held Bharti guilty of "racial prejudice and unlawful acts" against 12 African women during his controversial midnight raid in Khirki Extension in South Delhi.
On December 22, NHRC had accepted Bharti's request for hearing on the controversial midnight raid in January next and also directed Delhi government to defer payment of monetary relief of Rs 25,000 to the victims, recommended by it on September 29, for a period of two months.