AAP MP Sandeep Kumar Pathak Challenges Jail’s Decision to Deny Meeting with CM Arvind Kejriwal
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Kumar Pathak has approached the Delhi High Court after being denied permission to meet Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in jail. The jail authorities had previously allowed Pathak to meet Kejriwal twice in April but later restricted further meetings, citing violations of prison rules.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna has scheduled the case for further proceedings on Thursday after hearing part arguments from both sides. The jail authorities argued that Pathak’s statements to the media after the meetings were politically motivated and violated prison rules.
In response, Pathak’s plea contends that he did not breach any rules and that restricting political discussions infringes on democratic principles and constitutional rights. He argues that political speech is integral to democracy and should not be restricted unless explicitly prohibited by law or constitutional provisions.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing Pathak, stated that three people had been permitted to visit Kejriwal, with two currently meeting him. The court directed the jail authorities to provide a formal order explaining their decision to prevent Pathak from meeting Kejriwal.
Pathak’s plea challenges the application of Rule 587, arguing that its scope is limited to conversations during the interview itself and does not extend to statements made afterwards. He requested that the jail authorities be directed to allow him physical visitation and interviews with Kejriwal.
Doubts Revealed
AAP -: AAP stands for Aam Aadmi Party, which is a political party in India. It was founded by Arvind Kejriwal and others to fight against corruption and promote clean governance.
MP -: MP stands for Member of Parliament. In India, MPs are elected representatives who make laws and policies for the country.
Rajya Sabha -: Rajya Sabha is the upper house of India’s Parliament. It represents the states and union territories and helps in making laws.
Sandeep Kumar Pathak -: Sandeep Kumar Pathak is a politician from the Aam Aadmi Party and a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha.
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a court in India that deals with legal cases in the Delhi region. It helps to ensure justice is served.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state. Arvind Kejriwal is the Chief Minister of Delhi.
Arvind Kejriwal -: Arvind Kejriwal is a politician and the Chief Minister of Delhi. He is also one of the founders of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Jail authorities -: Jail authorities are the people who manage and oversee the operations of a jail, ensuring that rules and regulations are followed.
Prison rules -: Prison rules are guidelines that must be followed by inmates and visitors in a jail to maintain order and security.
Democratic principles -: Democratic principles are the basic ideas that support democracy, like freedom of speech and the right to participate in political discussions.
