Kerala High Court judge Harun-Ul-Rashid has called for an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into allegations that his meeting with CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan at Kerala House in New Delhi in February had influenced the judgment in the land-grab cases involving Salim Raj, former gunman of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy.
Addressing a session on awareness reference coaching and mentoring for mediators and law students at the High Court here on Saturday, Mr. Justice Harun-Ul-Rashid said he was ready to step aside till the investigation was over. Mr. Justice Harun-Ul-Rashid, while ordering a CBI probe against the accused in the land-grab cases on March 28, had observed that the alleged involvement of members of the Chief Minister’s Office in criminal acts had come to the attention of the court at multiple instances.
ObservationsHe had also said that these incidents showed that the authorities had not been prudent and responsible in appointing personal staff with integrity and character.
Congress leaders including Minister for Culture K.C. Joseph and Rajmohan Unnithan had alleged that the observations were an attempt to malign the Chief Minister. They had also questioned the judge’s integrity in issuing the order ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Justice Harun-Ul-Rashid said on Saturday that politicians were using the judiciary and for their gains. Judges do not deliver judgments thinking whether it would have an impact on the election, he said.
