In 2024, the Delhi High Court witnessed numerous high-profile cases, particularly involving AAP leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, linked to the excise policy corruption scandal. Legal battles included arrests, bail pleas, and administrative challenges, with setbacks for AAP and opposition leaders alike. The court also addressed broader issues such as healthcare, infrastructure, student politics, and public interest litigations, while setting the stage for significant hearings in 2025 on matters like personal liberty and political accountability.
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NEW DELHI: In 2024, several prominent politicians, including former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, found themselves embroiled in significant legal battles at the Delhi High Court.
They sought relief ranging from bail to administrative accountability. Among these litigants, leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were notably in the majority.
AAP Leaders Face Arrests in Excise Policy Case
The Delhi excise policy case of 2021-2022 triggered high-profile arrests, including AAP national convener Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia. This scandal marked a turbulent time for the party as the leaders pursued legal remedies.
Kejriwal became the first sitting Chief Minister of a state to face arrest. On March 21, the Delhi High Court refused to grant him interim protection from arrest in a money laundering case linked to the excise policy. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), India’s premier agency investigating financial crimes, subsequently arrested him. This led to months of intense litigation, lasting until his release in September.
During this period, the high court dismissed Kejriwal’s plea against his arrest on April 9. On June 25, the court stayed a trial court’s order granting him bail, and on August 5, it upheld his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the same case.
Meanwhile, other AAP leaders faced similar predicaments. Bail pleas by Sisodia and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, who were also accused in the excise policy case, were rejected by the high court in May and February, respectively. Kejriwal’s close aide Bibhav Kumar failed to secure relief from the court in July over allegations made by former Delhi Women’s Commission chief and AAP leader Swati Maliwal.
Another AAP MLA, Amanatullah Khan, faced a setback on March 11 when the court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in a money laundering case involving alleged irregularities in the Waqf Board.
Legal Wins for AAP Amidst Controversies
Amid the legal setbacks, AAP had some victories.
On June 5, the high court ruled that AAP was entitled to accommodation for its party office, similar to other national parties.
The court directed the central government to allot a bungalow within a specified timeline.
Setbacks for Other Politicians
BRS leader K Kavitha, embroiled in corruption and money laundering cases linked to the excise policy scam, was denied bail on July 1 by the high court.
The high court also dealt with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) questioning Kejriwal’s decision to continue as Chief Minister after his arrest.
A bench led by former acting Chief Justice Manmohan stated that Kejriwal’s “personal decision” to remain in office should not lead to the violation of fundamental rights. This remark came amid concerns over delays in supplying books to municipal school students.
Justice Manmohan’s Elevation and Significant Court Developments
Justice Manmohan, who oversaw many significant rulings, took oath as the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court on September 29 and was later elevated to the Supreme Court on December 16.
Other key judicial appointments included Justice Rajiv Shakdher as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court and Justice Suresh Kumar Kait as the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Opposition’s Litigations
Litigations in the Delhi High Court were not limited to AAP leaders. BJP leaders also made their presence felt. Opposition leader Vijender Gupta filed a plea in October seeking directions to present CAG reports on liquor duty, pollution, and financial matters before the Delhi Assembly.
Following the plea, 14 reports were sent for approval by the Lieutenant Governor in December. Another BJP MLA, Jitendra Mahajan, petitioned the court for the repair and reopening of a flyover near Nathu Colony Chowk, which had been closed for years.
Broader Issues Addressed by the Court
The Delhi High Court tackled several public interest issues. It directed the AIIMS director to overhaul critical care facilities in state-run hospitals, urging a collaborative approach between the Delhi health minister and the health secretary.
The court criticized the “freebie culture,” emphasizing that a lack of revenue generation hampers development projects.
In July, the drowning deaths of three civil service aspirants in Old Rajinder Nagar prompted the high court to transfer the investigation from Delhi Police to the CBI. The court highlighted the need to evaluate Delhi’s “outdated” administrative, financial, and physical infrastructure.
On March 22, the high court admitted CBI’s appeal against the acquittal of former telecom minister A Raja and 16 others in the 2G case, citing “some contradictions” in the earlier trial court decision.
Student politics also came under scrutiny. The court reprimanded Delhi University Student Union candidates for defacing public and private property during campaigns, ordering the declaration of results only after the cleanup.
In July, the court upheld the Food Safety and Standards Authority’s directive to increase the size of statutory health warnings on pan masala packets to cover 50% of the front label, replacing the earlier 3mm size.
Looking Ahead: Major Cases in 2025
As 2024 concluded, the Delhi High Court operated with 35 judges against a sanctioned strength of 60. Looking forward to 2025, several crucial cases await hearings. These include matters of personal liberty involving Umar Khalid, Khalid Saifi, and Gulfisha Fatima, all accused in terror cases connected to riots.
Other notable cases include BJP leader Subramanian Swamy’s plea on Rahul Gandhi’s Indian citizenship and renewed legal challenges by Kejriwal and Sisodia against chargesheets filed in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
The Delhi High Court remains a hub of critical legal proceedings, shaping the political and administrative future of the national capital and beyond.
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