Sisodia replaces Kapil Mishra as the new law minister

Sisodia is the third law minister in the <g data-gr-id="20">six-month old</g> Arvind Kejriwal government. 

The law ministry was being earlier handled by Kapil Mishra, who had succeeded Jitender Singh Tomar who resigned after being arrested for lying about his law degree.

According to sources, legal battle of the AAP government with the Centre has resulted in a huge number of litigations in Delhi High Court and Supreme Court that triggered the decision.  

According to sources in the Chief Minister’s Office,  Mishra was overburdened with departments so he was relieved from Law. 

“The Chief Minister wants him to focus on tourism and water departments which are the top priorities of the government now at this moment,” said a spokesperson of the Delhi government. 

Sisodia, who already holds <g data-gr-id="31">maximum number</g> of departments and all the <g data-gr-id="24">non allocated</g> assignments in his capacity as Deputy Chief Minister, will be the new law minister of Kejriwal government. He holds finance, planning, revenue, urban development, education, higher education (science & technology), administrative reform and services departments. 

It is important to mention that on August 28 Mishra had made public a letter written to the Chief Minister in which he had expressed his fears regarding his career for daring to recommend action against former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the Rs 500 crore water tanker scam. 

The Chief Minister’s Office, however, denied links with these two events. The main reason behind the decision to assign the law department to Sisodia is being seen on its importance as Delhi government is at loggerheads with the Centre in court on several issues including <g data-gr-id="28">Anti Corruption</g> Branch, appointment of inquiry commission in CNG fitness scam, appointment of M K Meena as chief of ACB, transfer and posting of senior IAS officers and rights of the state and Centre on several issues. These cases are pending in Delhi High Court and Supreme Court as well.  

After the arrest of former Delhi law minister Jitender Singh Tomar over the fake law degree controversy, the Kejriwal government had named the Delhi Jal Board Vice-Chairman Kapil Mishra as the law minister. 

Mishra was given the department of law and justice, tourism, art and culture besides chairmanship of the Delhi Jal Board. 

In 49 days of Kejriwal regime, former law minister Somnath Bharti had come under criticism for alleged raids in Khirki Extension and for his misbehaviour with foreign women besides summoning meeting of judges, a domain of Delhi high court.