Can’t hold strike outside someone’s office or house: Delhi High Court tells AAP

Kejriwal and his minister's strike entered the eight-day on Monday.

File photo

NEW DELHI: Blasting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its sit-in dharna outside Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal's office, the Delhi High Court on Monday questioned on the validity of the strike.

“Thing is that you’re sitting on a dharna. Who authorized them to sit on a dharna like this?” questioned the High Court. 

“This can’t be called a strike. You can’t go inside someone’s office or house and hold a strike there,” said the court.

Earlier today, BJP legislator Vijender Gupta had approached the Delhi High Court seeking an order to end Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his cabinet colleagues' strike, which entered the eight-day on Monday.

Kejriwal along with his deputy Manish Sisodia, ministers Satyendar Jain and Gopal Rai, went on a sit-in dharna outside Baijal's office-cum-residence last Monday, demanding him to direct IAS officers to end their 'strike' and approve doorstep delivery scheme of his government. 

Meanwhile, the IAS officers on Sunday asserted that they were not on strike as claimed by Kejriwal and that they are 'being used for political ends'. They also said that all files were being moved and that they were feeling frightened and victimised.

During today's hearing, the Delhi Government lawyer reportedly said IAS officers yesterday accepted they are not attending meetings called by ministers.

With agency inputs