The Delhi High Court asked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal if he would give even the 5% of rent amount promised to the cash-strapped tenants last year.
The Delhi high court had directed the Delhi government to formulate a policy on implementing CM Kejriwal’s promise, made on March 29, 2020, that if a poor tenant couldn’t pay the rent, the state would pay it.
The court, however, sought to know from the Delhi government counsel whether they had any intention to implement the promise.
“There must be several persons like this who might not have paid the rent. Aap bolte ho ki sarkar iska bukhtan karegi (You say the government will pay). Have you any intention to make (payment of) even 5 percent amount. Are you ready to pay even 1 percent?
A bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh said the irreparable loss would be caused to the Delhi government if an order of stay is not passed.
“There is a prima facie case in favour of the appellant [Delhi government]. Balance of convenience is in favour of the appellant and irreparable loss shall be caused. We stay the operation, implementation and execution of the order of the single judge till the next date of hearing,” the bench said while posting the case for further hearing on November 29.
Further, the court said it was very surprising that the Delhi government refused the “small” rent amount despite claiming it has a large budget.
“There are six petitioners… How hard it is to formulate a policy? They had [been] given 6 weeks time [later extended by two more weeks]. [There is] no policy – they are in contempt.”
During the coronavirus-induced lockdown in March 2020, Kejriwal, at a press conference, had assured the tenants in the capital of financial help. However, when the Delhi government did not follow through on its promise, several petitioners – most of whom were daily wage earners – moved to the High Court.
