Plea challenging validity of Delhi Minorities Commission Act: Delhi HC seeks reply from Centre, Delhi govt

Delhi High Court has directed the Delhi Government to file a reply in a plea challenging the validity of the Delhi Minorities Commission Act.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan has also sought replies from the Union of India and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, legal news website LiveLaw.in has reported.

The order has come in a PIL filed by one Vikram Gahlaut challenging the validity of the Delhi Minorities Commission Act as being ultra vires of the Constitution.

The Petitioner had also sought for the removal of Zafarul Islam Khan from the position of the Chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission Act.

In the previous order dated 21/05/20, the court had directed the Delhi Government to conclude the process under Section 4(4)(f) of the Delhi Minorities Commission Act against Zafarul Islam Khan in accordance with law in two weeks.

The Division Bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Sanjeev Narula had further issued fresh notices to the Delhi Minorities Commission, the Delhi Government, and Zafarul Islam Khan himself.

Today, the Petitioner informed the court that despite the previous order of this court, no decision has been taken by the Delhi Government on the prayers moved in the petition.

Replying to this submission, the Delhi Government informed the court that the reply has been received from Zafarul Islam Khan and now the file is pending before the Law Ministry.

Delhi Government further informed the court that the concerned Ministry is currently understaffed due to the COVID19 measures, and hence more time would be required to file the reply.

The court will now take up the matter on August 31.