Delhi High Court given two weeks to decide on plea against Delhi Police chief appointment

The Delhi High Court has been given two weeks to consider a plea that challenges the appointment of IPS officer Rakesh Asthana as the Delhi Police Commissioner.

India's Supreme Court has asked the High Court to decide on the plea and has set the deadline.

Asthana - a 1984 cadre officer - was appointed Delhi Police Commissioner on July 27, four days before his superannuation on July 31. He has served as the director general of Border Security Force, previously.


The Supreme Court bench - comprising of Chief Justice N V Ramana and justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant - permitted the NGO 'Centre for Public Interest Litigation' to move the Delhi High Court to intervene in the pending plea.

Moved by advocate Prashant Bhushan, the petition urged the court to set aside the Centre's order to appoint Asthana after extending his service period.

With inputs from PTI.