New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Women today refused to hear the lawyers who had come on behalf of Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti to give his representation in connection with the alleged misbehaviour with Ugandan women in Khirki Extension, South Delhi on the night of Jan 17.
Angry exchanges took place between the members of DCW with the lawyers, Neha Rastogi and Rishikesh Kumar, lawyers for Somnath Bharti.
The DCW members plainly told that there was no provision for lawyers to represent defendants in such matters.
The lawyers demanded under what rule were they being asked to withdraw from the room.
As Barkha Singh, chairperson of DCW, watched, other members of the commission angrily rejected the lawyers' contention that they wanted to give a representation on behalf of Somnath Bharti only. The members asked whether they had any authorisation, and the lawyers said they had the power of attorney for Bharti.
The rulebook of DCW clearly states no lawyers would be entertained.
The DCW said, it will take its own decision over Somnath Bharti's absence and will send its communication to him directly.
Soon after the lawyer left, two Ugandan female complainants reached the DCW office to present their side of the case.
