The Delhi High Court has allowed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Jasmine Shah to withdraw his petition challenging a 2022 government order that restrained him from functioning as the vice chairperson of the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD).
Justice Sachin Datta, while disposing of the matter earlier this month, noted in his order, “Learned counsel for the petitioner seeks to withdraw the present petition. The same is accordingly dismissed as withdrawn.”
The development comes after the Delhi government’s counsel argued that the petition had become infructuous, asserting that Shah had been lawfully removed from the position.
Shah had moved the High Court against a November 17, 2022, directive issued by the director (Planning), Delhi government, which was based on a request from the then Lieutenant Governor (LG) to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking Shah’s removal from the DDCD post.
The order not only removed Shah from his official capacity but also led to the sealing of DDCD offices, citing concerns that they were being “misused by Shah for political gains.” Additionally, all government facilities and privileges extended to him were withdrawn.
In his petition, Shah had described the action as a “gross abuse of power,” calling it “wholly without any merit, an instance of colourable exercise of authority, illegal, ex facie malafide and patently lacking in jurisdiction.” He also challenged the orders that locked his office and revoked his ministerial entitlements.
During the proceedings, the LG’s counsel informed the court that the matter regarding Shah’s removal had been referred to the President of India for consideration.
Jasmine Shah, a prominent figure within the Delhi government’s policy-making apparatus, was instrumental in shaping several of the city’s flagship initiatives, including the Electric Vehicle Policy, the food truck policy, the Electronic City project, and the Delhi Shopping Festival. As vice chairperson of DDCD, he held the rank of a Cabinet minister and was entitled to various perks such as official accommodation, a government vehicle, and personal staff.
