House panel 'won't take any harsh action against Delhi CS'

New Delhi: A Delhi Assembly committee told the high court on Monday that it will not take any coercive action against Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash.

The court was hearing a plea by the Chief Secretary against a breach of privilege notice sent to him by an assembly committee for not appearing before it.

The Delhi Assembly's counsel said no coercive action would be taken against Prakash if he appeared before the committee.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher posted the matter for hearing on April 11.

On February 21, Prakash was called by the Question and Reference Committee of the Delhi Assembly, but he did not turn up and the committee later sent him the notice.

Last week, Prakash challenged the committee's action in the high court and hitting back, the committee alleged that Prakash had lied under oath in the high court.

On February 20, the Chief Secretary alleged that he was assaulted by two Aam Aadmi Party MLAs in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

On Monday, Prakash's counsel told the court that of the 11 people who were present when the Chief Secretary was allegedly attacked, two had been arrested and the others were yet to be identified and that they could be part of the assembly committee.

The counsel cited this as a reason for Prakash not appearing before the committee.