Delhi HC warns DCPCR on misfounded plea against Delhi LG in fund issue

NEW DELHI: "You cannot bring down the office of LG like this. When you are making allegations against constitutional functionaries, you have to be much more serious,” the Delhi High Court remarked as it noted that the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights’ (DCPCR) plea against the Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) is mis-founded.

The Court noted that the plea was based solely on a press release which was never issued by the LG office at all.

The plea concerned an alleged halt on the funding of the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR).

A single-judge bench of Justice Subramonium Prasad said that the petitioner (DCPCR and one of its office bearers Ranjana Prasad) have acted completely irresponsibly.

Sr. Adv. Gopal Sankaranarayanan appearing for DCPCR told the Bench that though the note is not an official press release, the same was sent to journalists based on which several news platforms ran stories, thus leading to DCPCR filing the petition.

On the previous date, the Court had instructed the office of Delhi LG to file an affidavit, after it was informed that the LG Delhi had not issued any order to halt DCPCR’S funding. In fact, it held funds in excess of Rs. 5 crores as of the last date of hearing.

The case was transferred to the Delhi High Court by the Supreme Court.
Delhi LG had clarified that no order had been issued by the LG to cease the funding and that there was no press release towards this end, from his office.

The Court had added that this was a matter of serious concern, if true, "because the petition gives it a political colour".

On December 15, 2023, the petitioner commission had approached the Supreme Court, alleging that its funds were frozen by the LG, upon which the top court had ordered its transfer to the Delhi High Court.