Evict Sharad Yadav, he is using Delhi House to ‘damage JDU’: Nitish Camp to Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: The Nitish Kumar-led Janata Dal (U) has approached the Supreme Court, seeking to evict rebel leader Sharad Yadav from his official residence in Central Delhi, arguing that Yadav “is using the official bungalow to further damage” the party.

The special leave petition (SLP) seeks a stay on an interim order of Delhi High Court in December that allowed Yadav to avail of the official perks and facilities of an MP — including the use of his official residence, 7, Tughlak Road — until it decides on Yadav’s plea challenging his disqualification from the Rajya Sabha. Yadav was disqualified by the Rajya Sabha Chairman after the Nitish-led JDU sought action against him under the 10th schedule, after he revolted against the JDU-BJP realignment.

It is learnt a Supreme Court bench comprising Justice AK Sikri and Justice Ashok Bhushan, while admitting the SLP filed by JDU leader in Rajya Sabha RCP Singh before the court went into vacation, and while sending notice to Yadav, also allowed the petitioner “the liberty to approach the registry for listing of the matter” before the vacation bench.


This means the JDU could approach the vacation bench for urgent hearing of the petition as the court is on summer vacation.

While the JDU’s SLP signals the deepening political and legal battles between the Kumar and Yadav camps, it also coincides with two things: Yadav ‘mentoring’ the recent launch of the Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD) as a party of JD(U) rebels and actively coordinating with other opposition parties in rallying a larger anti-BJP line-up. It is believed that the LJD in coordination with the RJD and Congress, is also trying to tap “uneasy elements” in the JD(U), especially the non-Kurmi OBCs, Muslims and Dalits.

Listing reasons, the SLP says, the HC interim order was “legally and factually unsustainable” and that it “has caused irreparable damage to the petitioner, since the respondent (Yadav) is using the official bungalow to further damage to JDU.”

Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi may defend Yadav in SC against the SLP.

According to the Yadav camp, the “SLP is rooted in vendetta” and alleges BJP’s hand behind the petition filed by ally JDU.