A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking the suspension of state Minister for Minority Development Anees Ahmed.
A PIL has been filed in the Bombay High Court seeking the suspension of state Minister for Minority Development Anees Ahmed.
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The petition, filed by senior advocate MP Vashi, said that the minister should be suspended because one of his decisions was criticised by the High Court earlier.
"Court should direct the chief minister to suspend Ahmed or at least restrain him from performing his official functions," said advocate Vashi.
Vashi also added that Ahmed, a Congress leader, is facing a criminal case in Nagpur for allegedly hurling casteist abuse.
The division bench of Justices JN Patel and VK Tahilramani however felt that it does not have powers to issue such a direction.
"You will have to satisfy us that this falls under our jurisdiction," said Justice Patel.
A social activist had challenged Ahmed's decision to extend the Aarey Colony toll-collection contract with city-based Gharib Nawaz Corporation in 2004.
The division bench headed by Chief Justice Swatanter Kumar had set aside the decision in 2007, and called it 'abuse of power.' The court has adjourned the case beyond the summer vacation.
Earlier, court had also set up a committee to ascertain the loss caused to state treasury, and directed that it be recovered from Ahmed. However this ruling has been now challenged before the Supreme Court, and case is pending there.
State Advocate General Ravi Kadam said on Wednesday the High Court had not found any corruption in the decision-making. Besides, appointing a minister is Chief Minister's prerogative, he added.
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