JNU row:Bail hearing witnesses spat between Centre, Delhi govt

Law officers of the Centre and the Delhi government counsel were today at loggerheads before Delhi High Court during the hearing on bail plea of Kanhaiya Kumar, arrested on sedition charges, prompting the bench to observe that "this is not a place to settle personal scores."
As soon as the hearing on Kanhaiya's bail plea commenced before a bench of Justice Pratibha Rani, Delhi government's senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra opposed the appearance of Additional Solicitors General (ASGs) Tushar Mehta and Sanjay Jain and special public prosecutor of Delhi Police, Anil Soni.
Mehra told the bench that he has been appointed as senior standing counsel by the full court reference of the High Court and if there was no notification empowering the ASGs to appear in the matter, they cannot represent the state.

"If they don't have the same (notification), they cannot stand on their legs before this court," Mehra told the bench.
ASG Jain responded, "Once the ASGs are appearing in this matter, you have no business to interfere in it."
Mehra, however, shot back saying, "they have crossed the 'Laxman Rekha' and I will not allow this unless the court passes an order. I am appointed by the full court reference of this court."

"As a senior standing counsel, I am not allowed to argue in the matter and they are here on LG's unofficial order," he contended.
The ASG said he and advocate Shailendra Babbar were appointed as special public prosecutors in the case by the Lieutenant Governor.

At this juncture, the bench intervened saying, "Let us not distract from the main issue. This is not a place to settle personal scores. Let's not fight over this issue."
During the hearing, when the bench directed police to file a status report of its investigation in the case by tomorrow, the ASG said it would be filed in a sealed cover.
He argued that since the investigation in the case was at an initial stage, they cannot disclose contents of the status report to the accused.
The bench, however, said, "No sealed cover is required. It is just a bail application and petitioners have a right to know."

On the issue of status report, Mehra told the bench that it has to be filed by the Police Commissioner who has to clarify his stand as he had earlier said that police will not oppose Kanhaiya's bail plea.