The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated willingness to grant interim bail to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case amid the ongoing general elections but expressed reservations about allowing him to discharge his official functions as the CM during the period of interim bail, saying it “will lead to conflict” and may have a “cascading effect”.
However, the bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta raised concerns about the potential ramifications of allowing Kejriwal to sign off on official files while on interim bail. “We don’t want you to be performing your official duties. It would lead to conflict. You have continued (as the CM) and that’s your choice. We are not dealing with that issue. But today, it’s not a question of legality but propriety... We don’t want any interference in the working of the government. It will have a cascading effect,” the bench told senior counsel Abhishek Singhvi, who appeared for Kejriwal in the case.
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THE BIG STORY
SC hints at interim bail to Kejriwal, sets no-work condition
The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated willingness to grant interim bail to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case amid the ongoing general elections but expressed reservations about allowing him to discharge his official functions as the CM during the period of interim bail, saying it “will lead to conflict” and may have a “cascading effect”.
While the Enforcement Directorate (ED) urged the court not to release Kejriwal on bail by treating politicians as a class different from ordinary citizens, the court acknowledged Kejriwal’s unique position as both the CM and the convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the ongoing polls, describing it as an “extraordinary situation” warranting consideration for interim bail. Read more.
THE BIG QUESTION
Who did SC say is liable for deceptive ads?
The Supreme Court on Tuesday said celebrities and influencers are equally liable for action as those who advertise a product or service in a misleading manner, and ordered all advertisers to give undertakings before issuing commercials or ads in print that theirs are not misleading advertisements.
The court made the remarks while hearing a petition by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) challenging misleading advertisements by Patanjali Ayurved endorsed by Yoga guru Ramdev. Read more.
Crisis in Hry: 3 MLAs turn back on govt, go with Cong
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government in Haryana plunged into a crisis on Tuesday after three independent lawmakers withdrew support and said they would campaign for the opposition Congress in the ongoing general elections, leaving the chief minister Nayab Singh Saini-led administration tottering on the brink of collapse merely two months after being sworn in.
The three lawmakers — Randhir Golan from Pundri, Dharmpal Gonder from Nilokheri and Sombir Singh Sangwan from Dadri — said they had decided to back former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress and have written to governor Bandaru Dattatreya, pulling their support from the Saini government.
“We are withdrawing support to the government. We are extending our support to the Congress,” Gonder said.
Assembly elections are scheduled in the state in October-November this year. All 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state go to the polls on May 25. Read more.
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