A judge of the National Green Tribunal recused himself from hearing a case relating to a dumpyard after the Lieutenant Governor directly took up the issue with him.
On Tuesday, when the case filed by the Puducherry Environment Protection Association regarding a dumpyard at Kurumbapet in Puducherry, Justice P. Jyothimani orally expressed his displeasure.
Kiran Bedi, the LG, reportedly took up the issue with the judge, seeking binding orders to be passed on the government. “It is very unfortunate,” Justice Jyothimani said in an open court. However, he said he would not record this in the judgment. “I will just recuse myself,” he said as he felt it would not be proper for him to hear the case under such a circumstance.
The case will now be passed on to the NGT Chairperson for further consideration and a decision on who will hear the case.
Ms. Bedi had, last October too, while speaking at the regional conference on environment, made a recommendation to Justice Jyothimani to take punitive action against her Minister of Public Works and Chief Secretary.
Puducherry’s Additional Government Pleader, K. R. Sarin tendered his apologies for causing embarrassment to the Tribunal.
