Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma refuses to recuse, rejects petition of Kejriwal, others
Babushahi Network
New Delhi, April 21, 2026: In a big setback to AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi High Court Judge, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma has refused to recuse herself from Delhi Liqour case hearing and rejection petitions filed by Kejriwal and others against her.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said that petitions alleging apprehension of bias were driven by perception and not proof.
She said this was not merely about deciding a legal dispute but about confronting a direct challenge to judicial independence itself. She said that instead of the court judging a litigant, the litigant had sought to place the judge and the institution in the dock.
She made it clear that stepping aside would have been the easier option. She said her first instinct was to withdraw without hearing the applications after her impartiality and dignity were questioned. Justice Sharma said yet she chose to proceed with the hearing to ensure fairness and transparency.