Khirki raid: HC to hear Bharti plea on Friday

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday heard AAP leader Somnath Bharti's appeal against its decision to dismiss his plea challenging proceedings in NHRC on the Khirki Extension raid.
In a brief hearing, Chief Justice G Rohini made it clear to Bharti that the bench, also comprising Justice P S Teji, can't grant any relief till it hears the respondents. The court has posted the matter for further arguments on Friday before the vacation bench.
In his appeal, Bharti argued that the single judge dismissed his plea as "premature" without "allowing fair opportunity to explain the facts of the situation before the NHRC and the legal grounds on which the writ petition was eminently maintainable".
Appearing for him, advocate Deepak Khosla said the single judge "did not appreciate that the writ petition not only challenged the order dated September 29, 2014, but relief also against its ensuing consequences i.e. the defamation caused to the appellant."
Apart from seeking quashing of the court's December 23 order, the petition has also sought that NHRC's September 29 order be declared a "nullity". It has also sought a compensation of Rs 100 crore from the Centre, NHRC and the state government.
The commission had, on September 29, held Bharti guilty of "racial prejudice and unlawful acts" against 12 African women during his controversial midnight raid in Khirki Extension, south Delhi.
On December 22, NHRC had accepted Bharti's request for hearing on the controversial midnight raid in January next and also directed Delhi government to defer payment of monetary relief of Rs 25,000 to the victims, recommended by it on September 29, for a period of two months