The decision of Arvind Kejriwal regime to "glorify" the alleged suicide by hanging by a Rajasthan farmer at an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally here has come under the scanner of the Delhi High Court which has sought a response from the government for declaring him a martyr.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice R S Endlaw asked Delhi government standing counsel Raman Duggal to take instructions on a PIL filed by a lawyer who has opposed Delhi government's decision to declare Gajendra Singh Kalyanwat a martyr.
The plea, by advocate Avadh Kaushik, has also sought directions restraining the government from putting up a statue in memory of Gajendra, saying it amounts to "abetment" of the "cowardly and criminal" act and could tempt others to take the harsh step.
"This act of respondent 1 (Delhi government) was nothing but an effort to glorify, justify, praise, support and consecrate the act of suicide, attempt thereof itself is an offence under section 309 of Indian Penal Code, 1860," the petition has said.
It has sought directions restraining the government "from glorifying, justifying, supporting, propagating and consecrating the act of suicide committed by the politician-cum-farmer on April 22, 2015 at Jantar Mantar."
The incident had occurred during an anti-land bill rally called by AAP.
The court, meanwhile, declined the petitioner's request to restrain Delhi government from putting up the statue of the deceased farmer, saying "there is no material before us about the cabinet decision."
"Let the counsel for Delhi government take instructions and come," the bench said while posting the matter for further hearing on July 1.
