Lieutenant Governor approves SG Tushar Mehta-led panel to represent Delhi Police in anti-CAA protests, Delhi riots cases

Pursuant to the approval of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, a panel of six lawyers headed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has been notified for the purposes of representing the Delhi Police in the anti-CAA and Delhi riots cases..Apart from SG Mehta, the panel comprises Additional Solicitors General Aman Lekhi, SV Raju, and Chetan Sharma, along with Advocates Amit Mahajan and Rajat Nair.The notification reads,."They shall conduct all court proceedings including bail, trial, appeals, miscellaneous matters, applications and writ petitions filed by the accused parties or NGOs in various courts in connection with the 85 FIRs which have been registered in respect of and related to the Anti-Citizenship Act protests and North-East Distt, Delhi Riots cases.".Earlier this week, the Cabinet of the Delhi government had rejected the panel, as proposed by the Delhi Police, in the name of ensuring fair trial..[BREAKING] Delhi government refuses to allow SG Tushar Mehta-led panel to represent Delhi Police in Delhi riots cases .However, the decision was overruled by the Lieutenant Governor and the matter has now been referred to the President of India under Article 239AA(4) of the Indian Constitution, citing “differences of opinion”. .Article 239AA(4) states:4) There shall be a Council of Ministers consisting of not more than ten per cent of the total number of members in the Legislative Assembly, with the Chief Minister at the head to aid and advise the Lieutenant Governor in the exercise of his functions in relation to matters with respect to which the Legislative Assembly has power to make laws, except in so far as he is, by or under any law, required to act in his discretion:Provided that in the case of difference of opinion between the Lieutenant Governor and his Ministers on any matter, the Lieutenant Governor shall refer it to the President for decision and act according to the decision given thereon by the President and pending such decision it shall be competent for the Lieutenant Governor in any case where the matter, in his opinion, is so urgent that it is necessary for him to take immediate action, to take such action or to give such direction in the matter as he deems necessary..Thus, until the difference of opinion is decided by the President, the Home Department of the Delhi government has approved the panel suggested by the Delhi Police and confirmed by the LG..Read the Notification: