Arvind Kejriwal’s affidavit points to judge Swarana Kanta Sharma family as children empanelled as central govt counsels

New Delhi: Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has filed an additional affidavit in his plea, seeking recusal of justice Swarana Kanta Sharma of the Delhi High Court from hearing the Delhi excise policy case. The AAP chief has submitted that justice Sharma’s son and daughter are both empanelled as central government counsels.

In his affidavit, Kejriwal stated that justice Sharma’s children are assigned work by the solicitor general of India, who appeared for CBI before justice Sharma.

Kejriwal said this created a reasonable apprehension of bias and amounts to a conflict of interest. According to Kejriwal’s affidavit, her son is a Group A panel counsel for the Supreme Court while her daughter is a Group C panel counsel.
He also referred to a FAQ response available on the website of the Ministry of Law and Justice, which states that the attorney general for India selects cases for personal appearance, “while other cases are marked by the solicitor general to additional solicitors general and panel counsels”.

Kejriwal further submitted that since solicitor general Tushar Mehta appeared for CBI opposing his plea before justice Sharma, it gives rise to a direct and serious appearance of conflict of interest.