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The remark came as Urban Development Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj submitted that any increase in the financial power of the MCD Commissioner shall require approval of CM Kejriwal.

The court further said that a CM's post in a buzzing capital like Delhi is not ceremonial and it is a post where the office holder has to be available 24X7.

The observation is being viewed as another major setback for the AAP which has said that CM Kejriwal would maintain his role in government affairs while incarcerated.

"National interest and public interest demands that no person who holds this post is incommunicado or absent for a long stretch of time or for an uncertain period of time," the Bench said.

The court was hearing a PIL alleging a dire state of education in MCD-run schools. The court earlier said that nearly two lakh students lacked basic amenities due to administrative hurdles.

On Monday, the Bench ordered the MCD Commissioner to incur the expense of providing textbooks and other material to students without being constrained by the ₹5 crore expenditure limit.

It said, “Consequently, this court is of the view that non-availability of the Chief Minister or non-formation of a Standing Committee or disputes pertaining to appointment of an aldermen by the Hon’ble LG or non-delivery of judgment by a competent court or non-compliance of certain provisions of Delhi Municipal Corporation Act cannot come in the way of the school-going children receiving their free textbooks, writing material and uniform forthwith."

During the proceedings, the court said that CM Kejriwal's decision to continue as CM despite his arrest is his personal decision but that does not mean that because the CM is not available, “fundamental rights of young children will be trampled upon and they will go through the first term of school without textbooks, writing material and uniforms.”

The court said that receipt of free textbooks, writing material and uniforms by schoolchildren is not only a legal right under the Right to Education Act and its rules, but is a part of the Fundamental Rights under Article 21A of the Constitution.

It noted that the real issue in the matter is of “power”, “control”, “turf dominance” and “who takes the credit”.

Last time, the court had pointed out CM Kejriwal's failure to resign despite facing arrest on alleged money laundering charges, accusing him of placing personal interests above national interests.

The court had last week also criticised the AAP government's failure to provide textbooks to over 2 lakh students studying in the MCD schools in the national Capital.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora criticised the Delhi Government for prioritising “power over public welfare.”

Later, even the office of the Lieutenant Governor had accused the Delhi Government and Minister Bharadwaj of delaying the approval of a proposal to temporarily enhance the financial powers of the MCD Commissioner from Rs 5 crore to Rs 50 crore.

CM Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in connection with a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy scam. He is currently in judicial custody.

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The Bench had said that children are not commodities for trading as it criticised the government's admission of failure in multiple aspects under the MCD's jurisdiction.

(IANS)

"Massive fire broke out at a godown filled with plastic pipes close to the highway. Fire tenders have been called. Efforts are on to control the fire. There is no report of any casualties in the incident. People have been evacuated. We want to control the flames and ensure that property loss is minimal. People are being isolated from the spot," Senior Superintendent of Police of Mathura, Shailesh Pandey said.

Further details are awaited.

(ANI)

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“Naqli (fake) Shiv Sena says there are many options in the INDIA bloc for the PM’s post. They have not been able to decide who will be the INDIA bloc leader or their face. Will you hand over this country to them when this is their state of affairs? They seem to have planned to make one PM every year thereby five PMs in five years,’’ he claimed.

PM Modi was speaking at the campaign rally for the BJP nominee Ram Satpute from the Solapur seat where he is pitted against the Congress candidate Praniti Shinde.

PM Modi claimed, “One of them will become the PM for the first year, he will plunder the treasury as much as he wants and the next year another leader will become the PM.

“Then for the next three years three PMs will rule and plunder the country. Will our country work like this?’’

“Friends, you have known this Modi for many years but do you know who is the leader of the INDIA bloc? No one knows their leader as there is a tussle going on there over the name of the leader.

“The name of their front has not been decided, we do not know who their face is. Despite this, can these people run such a big country? Will you hand over this country to these people?” he asked.

He added, “No one will hand over our country to them even by mistake.”

“These people have done whatever they can to capture power and have divided the country,” he claimed.

PM Modi tore into the INDIA bloc members saying, “They do not want to run the country, they don’t care about the future of the people as they just want to make money.”

“You know me. I do not want money, wealth and fame but I only want your blessings. I hope you choose the guarantee for development for the next five years,” he said.

“On the other side, there are people, who before 2014 plunged the country into the abyss of corruption, terrorism and misrule. Despite its tainted history, the Congress is trying to regain power. However, it is not possible as INDIA bloc has miserably failed in two phases of polling,” he added.

PM Modi said, “You have seen 60 years of Congress’ rule and what has been done in the last 10 years. The amount of work done for social justice has never been done since Independence. The Congress tried to block the rights of SCs, STs and OBCs during its 60 year rule.’’

In the backdrop of allegations against the BJP over plans to change the Constitution and do away with reservation if voted to power for the third time, PM Modi said that the government during its 10-year rule had not taken away anyone’s rights.

“Our social justice formula is to connect with every community. I have decided to make the son and the daughter of a poor mother a doctor or an engineer so that they can reach top posts,” he said.

(IANS)

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