File detailed reply on PM CARES Fund: Delhi High Court to Centre

New Delhi, July 12

Taking exception to the Centre filing a one-page response to a PIL seeking to declare the PM CARES Fund ‘State’ within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution to ensure transparency in its functioning, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought “an extensive reply”.

“You have filed one-page reply to such an important issue. There is not even a whisper of what the senior advocate (Shyam Divan) is arguing. The issue is not so simple. We want an extensive reply,” A Bench led by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma said. The court’s comments came after it was informed by the Centre’s counsel that a detailed reply had already been filed in a similar petition filed by the same petitioner.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the arguments raised by petitioner Samyak Gangwal were relevant and needed to be decided. “Let an exhaustive reply be filed because this matter will certainly travel to the apex court and we have to decide all issues raised,” it said. /PTI