Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai Moves High Court Seeking Permission To Travel To New York For Attending Columbia India Energy Dialogue

Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai has approached the Delhi High Court seeking permission to travel to New York from September 15 to 19 for attending Columbia India Energy Dialogue.

The programme is scheduled to be held in New York, United States of America on September 18.

The matter will be heard tomorrow by Justice Subramonium Prasad.

Rai has challenged an order passed by the Union Government on September 12 denying him permission to travel abroad. 

It is his case that “arbitrary and malafide reasons” have been assigned by the Centre that since the Vice Chairman of NITI Ayog is going to represent at the Dialogue, a visit from the Delhi Government is not necessary as India is already being represented.

“…the invitation is specific for the different persons representing different stakeholders and does not intend to confine delegates at national level only for the formal representation of the country, therefore the reason cited herein above is nothing but a colourable exercise of power and accordingly bad in law,” Rai said in his petition.

The plea states that Rai received an invitation on August 13 for attending and speaking at the Dialogue wherein all stakeholders, including Indian think tanks will address the issues of energy consumption.

It is Rai’s case that other officers from different States have already been permitted to attend the Dialogue and therefore, there was no need for denying the permission to him.

The plea further states that the impugned order denying him permission to travel abroad has been passed by the Union Government in a haste manner, without any application of mind.

“BECAUSE the decision made by the Respondent is inaccurate and perverse in nature as there is absence of application of mind because the Petitioner is being invited to speak at the event,” it adds.

Title: GOPAL RAI v. UNION OF INDIA