Misleading statements made in court to show L-G in poor light: Saxena to CM

“This file moved unnecessarily between departments on one pretext or the other resulting in unwarranted delay in disposal of this matter, even as the government counsels kept committing perjury in the name of the Lt-Governor,” he wrote.

Excise Minister Atishi called a meeting with the government counsels and the excise department to ascertain the reasons behind the miscommunication. “As the Minister of Law and Finance, Minister Atishi convened a meeting with the excise department and government counsels concerned to understand why the miscommunication happened with the Hon’ble High Court regarding the status of the file. It is imperative to ensure clear communication channels and resolve any issues promptly,” the Delhi government stated.

The proposal of the Excise Commissioner to submit the report of the committee — set up on the orders of the Delhi High Court regarding conforming and non-conforming wards where liquor vends could be set up — to the court was moved for the L-G’s approval on August 18, 2022, Raj Niwas officials said.

However, it was stalled by the then minister, Manish Sisodia twice, officials said.

“All this while the government kept saying on record in HC that the report was pending with L-G. It prompted the court to request the L-G thrice to clear the file for submission of the report expeditiously, despite the fact that the file was not with L-G… The proposal was cleared by Atishi (Delhi minister) who sent it for further recommendation to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who cleared it on January 16 this year and sent it to L-G,” an official said.

Saxena noted in the file that the case was a “sad reflection on the manner in which the state government counsels made false and misleading statements” before the court, showing the L-G and his office in a poor light.

After the meeting, panel counsel, Arun Pawar, who appeared in the matter, wrote to Atishi and said that it was never suggested to the HC that the report was submitted to the office of the L-G. “… it is most respectfully submitted that it was never even remotely suggested to the Hon’ble High Court that the report is pending or the report has been submitted to the office of the Hon’ble Lt. Governor. It was only submitted that as the Committee was formed by the orders of the Hon’ble Lt. Governor, so the report has to be first presented before the Hon’ble Lt. Governor and after final approval than only same would be filed before the Hon’ble High Court,” he wrote.