Don't discontinue services of House fellows, says HC

THE COURT WAS HEARING A PLEA BY 17 FELLOWS AGAINST THE TERMINATION OF THEIR CONTRACTS AND NON-PAYMENT OF THEIR STIPENDS

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said a Delhi high court judgment directing that the services of 17 fellows terminated from the Delhi Assembly Research Centre be continued till December 6 proved that the Capital's "lieutenant governor was misusing his powers" and "that he had no power to remove the fellows." The LG's office did not respond to requests seeking comment on the matter, while the Delhi unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) pointed out that the court had not issued any judgments in the case.

During a hearing on Thursday, the single-judge Delhi high court bench of justice Subramonium Prasad said, "Till the next date of hearing, let services of the petitioners be not discontinued and petitioners be given stipend.

Replies to be filed within two weeks. List on December 6." The court sought responses from the state assembly and Delhi's services and finance departments.

The court was hearing a petition by the 17 fellows working with the Delhi government who were among several people removed after LG VK Saxena directed that the contracts of those working as consultants, fellows, and advisers in state departments be ended.