SC To Hear Contempt Plea Against PM Modi, Amit Shah Over Rakesh Asthana's Appointment As Delhi Top Cop

Advocate ML Sharma while challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana cited violation of 2018 Supreme Court order as per which, UPSC should consider only officials with two years of service left.

Rakesh Asthana

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India is expected to hear the contempt plea filed against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah along with the Ministry of Home Affairs, challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the Commissioner of Delhi Police. A two-member bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Surya Kantn will hear the contempt petition on August 5. 

Advocate ML Sharma while challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner cited a violation of 2018 Supreme Court order as per which, UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) should, as far as practical, consider only officials with two years of service left. 

In his plea, Sharma has said that  Asthana’s appointment amounts to ‘wilful denial’ of the apex court's judgement related to the Prakash Singh case dated July 3, 2018. The lawyer in his petition before the top court also demanded contempt proceedings against Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Home Ministry officials on this matter.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court while hearing the Prakash Singh case in 2019, highlighted clear cut guidelines stating that no officer with less than six months to retirement should be appointed as police chief.

On the contrary, Rakesh Asthana, who was about to retire on July 31, was given a year’s extension after being appointed as police Commissioner of Delhi.

The Ministry of Home Affairs last month in July, issued an official notice announcing the appointment of former CBI special director Rakesh Asthana as the new Delhi Police Commissioner. He replaced Balaji Srivastava, who was given the additional charge of Delhi Police Commissioner in June this year.