NEW DELHI: Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government ministers including Delhi chief minister (CM) Arvind Kejriwal have been sit-in, or 'dharna' since June 11 at the Lieutenant Governor's official residence.

Following this Delhi high court (HC) today asked “who authorized dharna”.

The bench of Justices A K Chawla and Navin Chawla heard two petitions one against the dharna by CM Kejriwal and the others against the alleged strike by the IAS officers of Delhi government. 

 BJP MLA Vijender Gupta today approached HC seeking a court order to end Kejriwal’s 'dharna'.

Kejriwal, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and cabinet minister Gopal Rai and health minister Satyendra Jain have been on The AAP leaders are demanding that IAS officers in the Capital end their 'undeclared strike' at Raj Niwas, the official residence of Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, since June 11.

They want Baijal to issue instructions to the civil servants to stop their sit-in, among other demands.

On a related note the lawyer who were representing the Delhi government ministers told the court that these IAS officers yesterday acknowledged they aren't present meetings called by ministers. The HC turned the queries on the AAP leaders.

"Thing is that you're sitting on a 'dharna'. Who authorized to sit on a dharna like this?" asked the HC.

When lawyer of the Delhi government said it was the ministers' individual decision, the HC again demanded to know, "Is it authorised? HC also added that such protest can't be termed a strike.

"This can’t be called a strike. You can’t go inside someone’s office or house and hold a strike there," The bench highlighted that the CM and others are sitting inside the LG's office and not outside his office or at the door.

The bench also took a decision to make the IAS association a party to the proceedings and adjourned the case for Friday.