Delhi High Court on Wednesday termed as "unfortunate" an alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by ruling legislators and said the trust among bureaucrats and legislators was vanishing.
Justice Mukta Gupta, while reserving order on the bail plea of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Prakash Jarwal, arrested for allegedly assaulting Prakash last month, said the court wants legislators and bureaucrats to feel safe.
The court also observed that this was the third case against Jarwal under section 186 of the Indian Penal Code for obstructing public servant in discharge of public function, and called it a very serious allegation.
Jarwal's counsel Rebecca John told the court that her client is ready to give an undertaking, including that he will maintain distance from the Chief Secretary, and requested court to grant him bail.
Prakash's counsel Sidharth Luthra opposed the bail plea and said the legislator might pressurise or harass his client.
Luthra apprised the court about a notice sent to Prakash by the Question and Reference Committee of the Delhi Assembly in which Jarwal is a member of the inquiry team.
More From This Section
Earlier on Wednesday, the court asked that if "a person can be assaulted in the presence of the Delhi Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister, what will happen at other places".
"How should I be satisfied that no such incident would take place in future," the court wondered.
Meanwhile, the court asked the Delhi Police to file response on the bail plea of another legislator Amanatullah Khan and listed his plea for hearing on March 12.
"Petitioner (Khan) is not required for any custodial interrogation and no useful purpose shall be served by keeping them under incarceration," the bail plea moved by Advocate Mohd Irsad said.
Advocate Irsad also said that Khan is a sitting MLA who is working for betterment of society and intends to dedicate his entire life for the service of the people.
On February 19, the Chief Secretary alleged that he was beaten up by AAP legislators Jarwal and Amanatullah Khan in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the CM's residence, where the top bureaucrat had been called for an emergency meeting.
A magisterial court has rejected their bail plea, saying the matter cannot be treated in "a casual and routine manner" considering they were "history-sheeters".
--IANS
akk/him/dg