[Rakesh Asthana case] You should not copy 90 percent of the petition: Delhi High Court to petitioner

A brief hearing in the challenge to the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as the Commissioner of Delhi Police on Thursday saw Delhi High Court Chief Justice DN Patel reiterate concerns that the petition may have been copied by petitioner, Sadre Alam, from another plea moved by NGO CPIL before the Supreme Court..Advocate BS Bagga, appearing for Alam, read several paragraphs from the petition, including on how certain rules on inter-cadre deputation may have been flouted with Asthana's appointment.."This all you have copied from memo of the senior advocate!", Chief Justice Patel orally remarked, the senior lawyer referred to being advocate Prashant Bhushan who is representing CPIL.."I don't know from where these allegations have come from," responded Advocate Bagga..Chief Justice Patel remained unconvinced."If the (petitioner, Sadre Alam) wants to file, he should file independently. The senior lawyer is waiting in the queue, the author ... If you are copying, you should copy 5%, not 90% (loosely translated from Hindi). Don't do like this in the future, we have tolerated these things (this time). There must be one's own logic also.".While allegations were denied by Bagga, the Chief Justice went on question the counsel on a term that was referred to in a portion read from the petition today. ."When did he (Asthana) reach "super-time" scale? Explain," the Chief Justice said. .Whereas Bhushan sought to answer, the Chief Justice added, "He has copied ... Let him answer. You enjoy, we will hear you at length.".Bagga began to respond by submitting, "In the DoPT memorandum... ".The Court, however, opined that the counsel was not answering to the query posed. ."You have no answer. The Judges must be enlightened by the lawyer. Apne copy kar di he, now explain ... Last time, we are asking you. (If there is no answer) we will dismiss with costs. You have copied, that is your problem. Without understanding you are reading. Now we want additional explanation. What is super time scale?", the Chief Justice asked..Addressing advocate Bhushan, the Chief Justice also observed that such copying has happened because copies of Bhushan's plea were shared widely before it was heard. "You people are also distributing copies to all. Don't do all this. He doesn't know what is 'super time scale' ... You have unnecessarily wasted your time watching this ... This happens also because you people are distributing. You are doing in good faith, but it becomes a weapon. I have asked the question deliberately. What assistance we will get (like this)? This is how in Delhi High Court, we are getting the assistance!" Chief Justice Patel said. .The Court went on to adjourn the matter after recording that the petitioner's counsel had sought time to answer to the Court's query on what a "super time scale" is. .The Court also recorded that the counsel had simply read over paragraphs without explaining anything..Last month, Bhushan had told the High Court that the petition filed by Alam challenging the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as Commissioner of the Delhi Police was a "direct copy-paste" of the petition on the same issue he was arguing before the Supreme Court.The Supreme Court had then given liberty to Bhushan to intervene in the present plea before the Delhi High Court..Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had also supported the allegation of plagiarism in an earlier hearing, when he commented, "It is too much of a coincidence that even typographical errors are the same."