There is no place for ego in the judicial institution, and there must be a frank, free and fair discussion on whatever issues that need to be addressed, former Chief Justice of India (CJI) R.M. Lodha has said.
Talking to The Hindu about the press conference held by four senior judges of the Supreme Court of India saying that current CJI Dipak Misra does not follow the roster and that sensitive matters are not assigned to the right bench, the former Chief Justice said, “Whatever issues are there could [have been] discussed and not brought out in public. It is unprecedented and could [have been] avoided.’’
He said, “The Chief Justice of India is the master of the roster, which is put in the public domain, through a cause list.”
A plea seeking a probe into Judge B.H. Loya’s death had sparked a divide between the judges and the head of the SC on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Bombay Lawyers Association on Saturday held a press conference and claimed that the plea in the SC was filed only after they had moved the Bombay High Court seeking a probe into Judge Loya’s death.
Ahmad Abdi, president of the association, said, “Our petition in the Bombay High Court was filed on January 4 and the Delhi petition has been filed subsequently. This was motivated to remove the case from the Bombay High Court and heard at the Supreme Court instead.” The plea, which has sought an enquiry by a retired SC judge, will be heard on January 23 at the HC.
