Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's plea, questioning the decision of a judge to expedite the hearing of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's defamation suit against him, was rejected by the Delhi High Court today. Five other AAP leaders have been accused in the case as well.

The judges said fast-tracking of trials was the "need of the hour" and the appeal was "misconceived and is devoid of merit". Dismissing it, the judges said, "They (AAP leaders) should not have filed this."

The two judge bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar also noted that the AAP leaders had admitted that disparaging remarks were made by lawyer Ram Jethmalani during the cross examination of Mr Jaitley.

On August 25, the court had pulled up the Chief Minister for questioning a single judge's decision to expedite the hearing in the defamation case, remarking it was answerable to the Supreme Court for delay in trials. The Chief Minister and AAP leader Ashutosh then challenged the decision of the judge, which was heard by a two-judge bench.