New Delhi

Bansuri Swaraj on Tuesday welcomed the decision of the Delhi High Court in which Justice Swarna Kanta Sharma declined to recuse herself from hearing the excise policy case involving former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and others.

Speaking at a press conference, Swaraj said the ruling reinforced judicial independence and rejected what she described as attempts by the Aam Aadmi Party to create pressure on the court through public narratives.

She alleged that Kejriwal sought to influence the judiciary and described the move as an attempt to change the narrative rather than simply seeking a different judge.

Referring to observations from the court order, Swaraj said the judiciary must function on reason and evidence, not perception or insinuation. She added that the reputation of judges should not be undermined without proof.

Kejriwal had objected to Justice Sharma hearing the Central Bureau of Investigation plea challenging his discharge in the liquor policy matter. His objections included the judge’s earlier refusal to grant him relief in his arrest challenge, as well as denial of bail to other accused such as Manish Sisodia and K Kavitha.

Swaraj also criticised the alleged personal attacks directed at the judge and her family, claiming they were intended to force her withdrawal from the case.

She further said Kejriwal fears judicial scrutiny of the earlier Rouse Avenue Court order, adding that the High Court had previously denied bail to him and other accused after examining evidence.

The BJP MP also accused AAP of being anti-women, linking her criticism to the party’s opposition to the women’s reservation amendment bill.

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Justice Sharma, in an order delivered a day earlier, said litigants cannot choose judges based on unfounded apprehensions of bias. She observed that personal attacks on judges amount to attacks on the judiciary and that no political leader should be allowed to sit in judgment over a judge’s competence without basis.