Delhi High Court Justice Recuses from PIL Involving Arvind Kejriwal and Others
In a significant development, Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court has recused himself from a public interest litigation involving Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders. The petition alleges that they recorded court proceedings without authorization and spread misinformation. The case, which raises questions about judicial impartiality, will now be heard by a different bench. This article delves into the details of the allegations and the context surrounding the April 13 incident that sparked this controversy.
| Apr 22, 2026, 20:23 IST
Justice Tejas Karia Steps Back from PIL Hearing
On Wednesday, Justice Tejas Karia of the Delhi High Court recused himself from hearing a public interest litigation (PIL). The petition accuses former Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, along with several other AAP officials and journalist-turned-YouTuber Ravish Kumar, of allegedly recording court proceedings without permission and disseminating them. According to reports from Live Law, the division bench led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay stated, "This bench will not hear this case. It should be listed before a bench tomorrow that does not include any member from us (Justice Karia)." Just a day prior, lawyer Vishal Singh filed a petition against Kejriwal and others, alleging they conspired to mislead the public, creating the impression that the judiciary was being influenced by certain political parties and the central government during a hearing on April 13 before Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma.
Allegations and Demands for Investigation
In his petition, Singh requested the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. He also demanded the removal of videos from social media, claiming that Kejriwal and his associates tarnished the judiciary's image by spreading these videos. The hearing for this petition was originally scheduled for today; however, following Justice Karia's recusal, it will now take place tomorrow. Justice D.K. Upadhyay will determine which bench will hear this PIL.
Context of the April 13 Incident
What Happened on April 13?
On April 13, Arvind Kejriwal raised questions about the impartiality of the judiciary, requesting that Justice Swarn Kanta Sharma recuse himself from the CBI case related to the Delhi liquor policy. Citing the politically sensitive nature of the issue, he pointed to reasonable apprehensions of bias, noting that the judge had allegedly participated in events organized by the Bar Council, which is associated with the RSS.