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'If politicians' kids can enter politics…': HC judge on Kejriwal's point about her son, daughter being lawyers for govt
Delhi High Court judge Swarana Kanta Sharma declined to recuse from the CBI case against Arvind Kejriwal, reacting to allegations about her children working as government panel lawyers. She said no nexus has been shown and that the court should not be swayed by social media, allowing the main challenge to proceed before her. The case will continue before Justice Sharma.
Why It Matters
The ruling touches on judicial independence and public trust, addressing whether relatives of judges should trigger recusal when cases involve government entities or political figures.
Timeline
5 Events
Main case to continue before Justice Sharma
April 20, 2026
The CBI's challenge to the trial court's discharge order will continue to be heard by Justice Sharma in the High Court.
Order dictation and rejection of recusal
April 20, 2026
While dictating the order, Justice Sharma rejected the notion of a nexus due to the judge's family; she stated there is no such nexus and that the court is trained to pay little heed to social media. She emphasized that relatives' career choices do not obligate a judge to recuse.
Kejriwal files affidavit detailing his claims about judge's children
April 20, 2026
In an affidavit filed a day after the reserved verdict, Kejriwal said the judge's son is empanelled as a Group A counsel for the Centre before the Supreme Court, and her daughter is empanelled as a Group C counsel for the Centre before the Supreme Court and also serves as a pleader for the Centre before the Delhi High Court.
Reserved verdict on recusal applications
April 19, 2026
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma reserved her verdict on the recusal applications in the CBI challenge to the trial court's discharge order.
Background: Kejriwal raises concern over potential conflict of interest due to govt lawyers in the case
April 2026
Kejriwal had alleged a conflict of interest since Tushar Mehta, as Solicitor General, leads government litigation and is the CBI's lawyer in the Delhi excise policy case in which Kejriwal and others have been discharged. The CBI challenged the discharge order, and the High Court was hearing the matter with recusal arguments.