AAP Leader Jasmine Shah Withdraws From Delhi High Court Plea Against Removal From DDCD Post

Aam Aadmi Party leader Jasmine Shah recently withdrew from the Delhi High Court his petition filed against his removal from the post of Vice Chairperson of Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDCD) in 2022.

Justice Sachin Datta permitted the withdrawal and dismissed the plea as withdrawn.

“Learned counsel for the petitioner seeks to withdraw the present petition. The same is accordingly dismissed as withdrawn,” the Court said.

Shah had filed the petition against LG's decision asking then Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to remove him from the post and restricting him from discharge of functions as the V-C in the meantime.

In September, 2022, BJP MP Pravesh Sahib Singh had filed a complaint alleging that Shah was acting as official spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party before the media, and called it a misuse of public office.

Shah, who was appointed as the chairperson of the government think tank in 2020, was issued a show cause notice by the Director of Planning Department for alleged "misuse of public resources" for political activities. 

Shah had chosen to submit his response to the Chief Minister through Deputy Chief Minister/Minister (Planning). The LG had earlier sought a copy of the reply from the Chief Minister's office but the same was not provided, according to the planning department.

Defending his political activities, Shah in his petition has argued that the expectation of 'political neutrality' is only associated with 'government servants' who constitute the 'permanent executive' in a parliamentary system of democracy such as the one adopted by India.

He has also said that he has never used the official premises of the DDCD for any television debate or media interaction "as alleged in the complaint, and rubber stamped in the impugned order".

Title: JASMINE SHAH v. DIRECTOR (PLANNING) GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS.

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Del) 575

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