Supreme Court notice to Centre, Rakesh Asthana on appointment as Delhi police chief

The court issued a notice to the Central government, seeking a response from the government and Rakesh Asthana within two weeks

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre on a plea against appointment of Gujarat cadre IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as Delhi police commissioner, just three days before his retirement.

A bench presided over by Justice D Y Chandrachud sought a response from the Union government and Asthana within two weeks.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO 'Centre for Public Interest Litigation', challenged the Delhi HC judgement, which upheld Asthana's appointment.

He sought an early date of hearing.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Asthana.

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The court put the matter for consideration on December 13.

On October 12, the High Court had dismissed a plea against appointment of Asthana, a 1984-batch officer, as the Delhi police commissioner on July 27, just before his superannuation on July 31.

The court had then declared that the Union government had power, jurisdiction and authority to make inter-cadre deputation of officers in public interest and the top court's judgements in Prakash Singh case on appointment of police heads would not apply to Union Territories.

It had also said the petitioners --advocate Sadre Alam and NGO CPIL led by advocate Bhushan-- have not been able to make out a case calling for interference or even remotely demonstrate that there is any blot in the service career of Asthana, making him unsuitable for the post of Delhi police commissioner.

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