Delhi HC to decide in 2 wks plea against Asthana’s appointment as police chief

Supreme Court on Wednesday urged Delhi High Court to decide a plea challenging appointment of Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi Commissioner of Police within two weeks on another pending petition of one Sadre Alam.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India NV Ramana, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Surya Kant issued the order on a writ petition filed by Centre for Public Interest Litigation, deferring its petition for two weeks and allowing it to intervene in the petition before High Court.

"We request the Delhi High Court to consider the matter as early as possible in 2 weeks for us to have the benefit of High Court's judgement. Petitioner is at liberty to file intervention application," the order said. Also pending is a public interest litigation by Delhi lawyer Manohar Lal Sharma, seeking contempt of court by the PM and Home Minister Amit Shah for violating Supreme Court's 2006 judgment. Justice Lokur panel won't proceed with Pegasus probe NEW DELHI: The West Bengal government on Wednesday put on hold the Pegasus snooping probe by a 2-member commission it had set up under chairmanship of former Supreme Court judge MB Lokur. The commitment came in an affidavit as sought by a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on August 17 on a batch of pleas seeking independent probe, saying it would examine after 10 days what course should be adopted.

On a separate plea by NGO Global Village Foundation Public Charitable Trust against Lokur commission, the Bench suggested West Bengal not to proceed with the probe. "If we are hearing other matters, we expect some restraint," said the CJI.