Delhi HC Chief Justice Rejects Kejriwal's Plea to Transfer Excise Policy Case

Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya has denied Arvind Kejriwal's request to transfer his excise policy case petition. The Chief Justice stated that cases are assigned according to the roster and that any decision on recusal is solely at the discretion of the judge currently hearing the matter. Kejriwal had sought the transfer on administrative grounds, in a case involving allegations of undue benefits related to the excise policy.

Delhi High Court Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya has turned down Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal's petition seeking the transfer of his excise policy case. Kejriwal had filed the request on administrative grounds, aiming to move the case from its current bench. However, Chief Justice Upadhyaya firmly stated that the allocation of cases is carried out strictly as per the established court roster, indicating a standard procedural approach to case management. Furthermore, the Chief Justice clarified that the discretion to recuse from a case rests solely with the individual judge who is currently presiding over it, rather than being an administrative decision to be made by the Chief Justice's office. This decision means that the case will continue to be heard by its currently assigned judge, and any potential change in the hearing judge would have to originate from that judge's own decision to recuse, not from an administrative transfer request. The case in question involves serious allegations concerning the Delhi excise policy, specifically pointing to claims of undue benefits being granted to certain entities, which has been a contentious political and legal issue. The rejection of the transfer plea ensures the continuity of the legal process as per the existing judicial framework.