The Delhi High Court ruled on Wednesday that there was no error in denying Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sandeep Pathak’s request to visit Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in Tihar Jail. The court’s decision supports the prison authorities' choice to deny Pathak further visits.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna's bench clarified that if Pathak wants to meet Kejriwal in the future, he would need to file a new application. This application would then be reviewed by the Jail Superintendent according to the relevant laws.
Pathak, a Rajya Sabha MP from AAP, had earlier challenged the prison’s refusal to allow him to visit Kejriwal. He argued that denying the visit violated the principles of natural justice. However, the court found this claim unsubstantiated based on Pathak’s own admissions.
Earlier in April, Pathak was allowed to meet Kejriwal twice. But the prison authorities recently denied further meetings. They cited Pathak’s media statements, which they argued violated prison rules and seemed politically motivated.
Pathak’s plea questioned the fairness of the jail authorities' decision, as they argued his actions breached prison conduct. Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing Pathak, mentioned that three other individuals had been permitted to meet Kejriwal, with two currently visiting him.
Pathak’s application sought a court order for physical meetings and interviews with Kejriwal. He claimed that his statements did not breach any prison rules and argued that the denial of political discussions impinges on democratic and constitutional rights. He contended that such restrictions should only apply if explicitly stated by law or constitutional provisions.
The court’s decision reaffirmed the prison's authority to manage visitations as per the rules and regulations, emphasizing that Pathak’s previous statements played a significant role in their decision to limit access.
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