Above: Delhi CS Anshu Prakash (third from right) and other bureaucrats on a candlelight protest march to Rajghat (file pic)

The Delhi HC on Friday (July 14) has directed Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash and two other bureaucrats JB Singh (now retired), Shurbir Singh to appear before the Delhi Assembly Committee or face contempt of court.

During the course of proceedings, the counsel appearing for Delhi Assembly Committee told the court that the three officers were exploiting the court’s earlier order constraining the authorities from taking action against them and they were neither appearing nor answering to the queries asked of them.

The court on March 9 had asked the Committee not to take punitive steps against the officers after being informed by the Committee that it would not take any coercive action against the officers.

The court was acting on the plea filed by Prakash seeking quashing of notice issued by the Committee asking him to appear before it.

Next hearing has been adjourned to September 18.

—India Legal Bureau