Delhi Lt Governor overturns AAP government's decision on panel of lawyers

anil-baijal-kejriwal-covid-pti Lt Governor Anil Baijal (left); CM Arvind Kejriwal | PTI

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, on Thursday, rejected the decision of the Delhi cabinet over the selection of lawyers to appear in court in the cases pertaining to the February riots and the anti-CAA protests.

Baijal also issued orders to the Delhi government to notify the panel of lawyers suggested by the Delhi Police.

The Delhi cabinet had earlier rejected the panel of lawyers proposed by the police and directed the home department to set up a panel of the best lawyers to appear in the high court and the Supreme Court in cases pertaining to the riots and anti-CAA protests.

The government said in a statement that under the Constitution, it is now bound to implement this order of the Lt Governor.

Baijal rejected the cabinet decision by exercising his special power under Article 239AA(4) of the Constitution.

The Delhi cabinet had rejected the panel of lawyers proposed by the Delhi Police, observing that the courts have already raised serious questions on the fairness of investigations done by the police in the riot cases.

The cabinet had also observed that in such a situation, a free and fair trial of these cases would not be possible by a panel of lawyers selected by the Delhi Police itself.