The Delhi high court on Thursday was informed by the AAP government that it was complying with the Supreme Court’s directions on government advertisements in “letter and spirit.”
The Delhi government made the submission before a bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath. The AAP government also said that the Centre was yet to set up a committee to oversee release of advertisements by the state governments and their agencies, as directed by the apex court.
Senior standing counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for the city government, told the bench that the Centre and various states have filed a petition seeking review of the top court’s verdict.
Senior advocate Chetan Sharma, appearing for NGO Nyayaa Path, informed the court that the city administration was releasing an advertisement every time there an untoward incident. Mr Sharma gave the example of a girl stabbed to death in July at Anand Parbat in north Delhi and said the Delhi government had released advertisements saying the 19-year-old was stabbed more than 30 times but forensic reports had showed she was stabbed only four times. The review plea has been filed in the apex court with regard to whose photographs can be displayed on the advertisements issued by the state governments, Mr Sharma told the court.
The court listed the matter for further hearing on December 1 after hearing brief arguments on the petitions by the NGO and others, including Congress leader Ajay Maken, alleging that the Delhi government has violated the apex court’s directions.
During the last hearing, the Centre had informed the court that it was in the process of forming the committee. The Centre had also alleged that the Delhi government was misusing state exchequer funds to glorify CM Arvind Kejriwal.
