Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have approached the Delhi High Court challenging the Privileges Committee summons over alleged misuse of Rs 1 crore public funds to renovate the so-called “Phansi Ghar” inside the Assembly. The AAP leaders claim the proceedings are unconstitutional and beyond the committee’s powers.
New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia have filed petitions before the Delhi High Court challenging the summons issued to them by the Privileges Committee of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.
The committee had summoned them over allegations that they misused public funds to renovate what was claimed to be the “Phansi Ghar” (execution chamber) inside the Delhi Assembly complex.
The case will be heard by Justice Sachin Datta tomorrow.
The controversy began when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Kejriwal, claimed that a structure within the Assembly complex was a British-era “phansi ghar”, and it was formally inaugurated in August 2022 in the presence of Kejriwal, Sisodia, and other AAP leaders.
The site was renovated and decorated with murals of freedom fighters, symbolic iron bars, and even a pair of nooses to resemble a colonial-era execution chamber.
However, the current BJP-led government has disputed this claim, arguing that the structure was never an execution chamber.
According to their version, it was originally just a service staircase or a tiffin-room, and the AAP government
“distorted history and spent public funds inappropriately over the fabricated site.”
During an Assembly session held in September, Speaker Vijender Gupta had alleged that the Kejriwal government had spent Rs 1 crore on the renovation to make the spot resemble a jail cell. The Speaker said the renovation was done only to enhance a false historical narrative.
The Privileges Committee, headed by BJP MLA Pradyumn Singh Rajput, is expected to meet on November 13 to examine the authenticity of the structure and review the actions taken during the AAP government’s tenure.
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In their plea before the Delhi High Court, Kejriwal and Sisodia have argued that the proceedings initiated by the committee are not based on any formal complaint, report, or motion for breach of privilege or contempt.
They have claimed that the committee’s actions do not follow the mandatory procedures prescribed under the Delhi Legislative Assembly Rules, including Rules 66, 68, 70, 82, or Chapter XI.
Their petition specifically states:
“No procedure applicable for privileges committee under Rules 66, 68, 70, 82, or Chapter XI of the Assembly Rules has been followed.”
The AAP leaders have further argued that the committee appears to be functioning beyond its legal authority.
They said that it seems the committee is being used to verify the authenticity of the structure, which is
“a function beyond the remit of the Delhi Legislative Assembly and especially its Privileges Committee.”
Their plea also states:
“The proceedings suffer from lack of jurisdiction, procedural illegalities, constitutional infirmities, and colourable exercise of legislative power. They violate the fundamental rights of the Petitioners under Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution and are liable to be quashed.”
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Essentially, Kejriwal and Sisodia are asking the High Court to strike down the summons and stop the privileges committee from continuing the proceedings. They have maintained that the issue is politically motivated and that the committee is acting beyond its legal and constitutional powers.
The hearing tomorrow will determine whether the Delhi High Court agrees to intervene in the privileges committee proceedings or allows the Assembly’s internal process to continue.
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