The Delhi High Court has dismissed a petition seeking the deregistration of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) over allegations that its leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, acted contrary to constitutional principles.
A bench comprising Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia observed that the grounds cited by petitioner Satish Aggarwal were 'not only misplaced, but also far-fetched and highly misconceived.'
The court noted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) can deregister a political party only in limited circumstances, including when registration was obtained through fraud or forgery, or when the party amends its nomenclature, rules or regulations in violation of section 29A(5) of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), 1951.
The court also clarified that a political party cannot be deregistered merely on allegations that it failed to uphold constitutional values, as there is no specific provision under the Act permitting such deregistration.
The court's decision comes after an unprecedented face-off between Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma and Kejriwal began after the trial court discharged him and other AAP leaders in the excise policy case.
