Delhi HC reserves order on pleas against Rs 1 crore to Ram Kishan Grewal's family

The petitioner alleged in the court that Arvind Kejriwal should not have "glorified" this act of committing suicide

The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its order on two separate pleas challenging the Delhi government's decision to give Rs 1 crore compensation and a job to the family of ex-armyman Ram Kishan Grewal, who recently committed suicide in the national capital 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 the Lieutenant Governor (LG) for his approval.

"No public interest is involved in this. These petitions are premature. The decision has to go to the L-G. If any decision is taken by the council of ministers, it has to go to the L-G for his approval," senior standing counsel of Delhi government Rahul Mehra told the bench.

One of the 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 other 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 for November 14 on both the pleas.

Retired Army Subedar Grewal had allegedly committed suicide over the OROP issue on November 1.

In one of the petitions it was contended that by granting compensation and a job to 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, L-G 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".