New Delhi: Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its order on two separate pleas challenging the AAP government’s decision to give Rs one crore compensation and a job to the family of ex-army man Ram Kishan Grewal, who recently committed suicide here allegedly over grievances on ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) issue.
The Delhi government opposed these pleas before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, saying the petitions were “premature” as the decision has to go to Lieutenant Governor (LG) for his approval.
“No public interest is involved in this. These petitions are premature. The decision has to go to the LG. If any decision is taken by the council of ministers, it has to go to the LG for his approval,” senior standing counsel of Delhi government Rahul Mehra told the bench.
One of the public interest litigation (PILs) filed by advocate Avadh Kaushik has also opposed the AAP government’s decision to declare Grewal a ‘martyr’.
The petitioner alleged in the court that Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should not have “glorified” this act of committing suicide.
Advocate Abhishek Choudhary, appearing for another petitioner Puran Chand Arya, alleged that the government should not award money like this as it is “taxpayers money”.
The bench, after hearing the submissions, reserved its order on November 14 on both the pleas.
Retired Army Subedar Grewal had allegedly committed suicide over the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ (OROP) issue on November 1.
In one of the petitions, it was contended that by granting compensation and a job to the kin of the ex-serviceman, Kejriwal, and his government were “justifying, supporting, propagating and consecrating the act of suicide”.
It had sought directions from the court to quash the AAP government’s decision saying it amounts to “misappropriation of public funds”.
The PIL also sought a direction to the Centre, LG, and Delhi government to “frame a proper and valid scheme or policy for declaring a deceased person as a ‘martyr’ and to award the compensatory benefits and perquisite to his family”
Bureau Report
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