The Delhi High Court has set aside a single-judge ruling which had treated a statement made by the Chief Minister during a press conference as an enforceable promise, holding that no writ of mandamus can be issued to compel the government to act on such statements.

A Division Bench comprising Justices C. Hari Shankar and Om Prakash Shukla, in Govt of NCT of Delhi v. Najma, overturned the earlier direction that required the Delhi government then led by Arvind Kejriwal to frame a policy based on an assurance given in a press interaction.

The Single-judge had previously held that a promise or representation made by the Chief Minister in a press conference could be treated as binding, and had directed the government to take steps toward implementing it.

However, the Division Bench disagreed, clarifying that such public statements do not create enforceable legal obligations. It categorically held that “no mandamus could be issued to enforce the statement made by the then Chief Minister in the press conference.”