New Delhi [India], April 27 (HBTV): Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has decided not to appear before the Delhi High Court in the excise policy case, expressing complete distrust in Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, according to party sources.
In a letter to Justice Sharma, Kejriwal stated that he would not appear before her, either personally or through legal representation. He said he has chosen to follow the path of Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha.
'My hope of receiving justice from Justice Swarana Kanta Ji has been shattered. Therefore, I have decided to follow the path of Gandhiji's Satyagraha. Heeding the voice of my conscience, I have made a decision,' Kejriwal said in the letter, as per AAP sources.
'I reserve the right to approach the Supreme Court to appeal against her verdict,' he added.
This development follows the Delhi High Court’s dismissal of his plea seeking the recusal of Justice Sharma in the excise policy case. Kejriwal had alleged a perceived conflict of interest, citing the empanelment of the judge’s children as Central Government counsel, and argued that it created a reasonable apprehension of bias.
The High Court held that the allegations were based on conjecture and did not meet the legal standard required to establish reasonable apprehension of bias.
In its observations, the Court stated that 'the courtroom cannot become a theatre of perception' and cautioned that even a powerful political figure cannot cast aspersions on a sitting judge without material evidence. It added that the same standard of fairness applies when allegations are made against the judiciary and warned that entertaining such pleas could erode institutional credibility.
Justice Sharma noted that the case was built on 'insinuations and aspersions' rather than proof, and said that accepting such arguments would set a dangerous precedent. The Court further observed that a judge cannot be asked to recuse merely because a litigant apprehends an unfavourable outcome, stating that 'justice cannot be managed through perception.'
The court also directed the removal of all social media links containing the April 13 proceedings before Justice Sharma in the recusal plea moved by Kejriwal. (ANI)