Martyr status to farmer: HC pulls up AAP govt

The Delhi High Court today pulled up the Arvind Kejriwal government for failing to show its cabinet decision to accord "martyr" status to a Rajasthan farmer who had died due to hanging from a tree during an AAP rally here in April.
"We have earlier asked you to show us the cabinet decision, but still their is no reply. This is a PIL. Even your counsel is not here to respond to the queries. Why can't you make alternate arrangement in case your counsel is absent," a bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini said.
The bench gave further time to AAP government to show it the cabinet decisions and posted the matter for hearing on October 14.

The court had on July 1, sought the Delhi government's response on a plea challenging the cabinet decision to accord "martyr" status to the farmer saying suicide was a crime and it cannot be glorified.
The incident had occurred during an Aam Aadmi Party rally against the Land Acquisition Bill on April 28 when the Rajasthan farmer, Gajendra Singh Kalyanwat, hung himself from a tree at the Jantar Mantar venue here.
The court on May 6 had sought the city government's response on a PIL filed by advocate Awadh Kaushik challenging its decision to declare Kalyanwat as a martyr.

The plea had also sought directions to restrain the Delhi government from installing a statue in memory of the farmer.

In his plea, the petitioner also opposed the city government's move to launch a Farmers' Compensation Scheme in the name of Kalyanwat, apart from promising government job to one of his kin on compassionate ground.
It also contended that the government's decision was also "a kind of abatement and temptation to others to commit such a criminal and cowardly act which is not only prejudicial to public interest but also a hostile attitude to the sanctity of life and thus, nobody, what to talk about the government, can support and glorify such an act."
The petition has also sought directions to Delhi Police to "not grant any permission to any person, party or group to stage any kind of 'dharna' or protest at Jantar Mantar" in future.