The Delhi High Court on Tuesday indicated it would appoint three senior lawyers as amicus curiae to represent Aam Aadmi Party leaders
New Delhi
The development came during the hearing of the CBI’s plea challenging a trial court’s decision to discharge the accused in the controversial liquor policy case. The bench, headed by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, made it clear that it would ensure proper legal representation despite the absence of the AAP leaders from the proceedings. The court stated that it would formally appoint senior lawyers as amicus curiae, a legal mechanism used to assist the court in ensuring fairness and clarity in complex matters.
Justice Sharma noted that an order regarding the appointment would be passed on Friday, after which the court would proceed with hearing the case. However, the bench refrained from commenting on the decision of the leaders to boycott the proceedings.
The boycott follows an earlier order dated April 20, in which Justice Sharma dismissed applications filed by Kejriwal, Sisodia, and others seeking her recusal from the case. Subsequently, the leaders addressed a letter to the judge stating that they would not participate in the proceedings either personally or through legal counsel, invoking the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of Satyagraha.
Earlier, on February 27, a trial court had discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia, and 21 others, observing that the prosecution’s case could not withstand judicial scrutiny and stood discredited. However, the matter took a turn on March 9 when the High Court, while hearing the CBI’s appeal, put on hold the trial court’s recommendation for departmental action against the investigating officer. The High Court also observed that certain findings at the stage of framing charges appeared prima facie erroneous and required further examination.
With the appointment of amicus curiae, the High Court aims to move forward with the case while ensuring that legal arguments are adequately presented, even in the absence of the accused and their chosen representatives.