PIL at Delhi HC seeks CBI probe in Justice Katju's allegations
A week after Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju accused three former chief justices of India of making “improper compromises” to save a tainted judge of the Madras High Court, a PIL was on Monday filed at the Delhi High Court seeking CBI investigation in the matter.
A week after Press Council of India chairman Markandey Katju accused three former chief justices of India of making “improper compromises” to save a tainted judge of the Madras High Court, a PIL was on Monday filed at the Delhi High Court seeking CBI investigation in the matter.
“The information disclosed by Justice Katju, former SC judge, clearly discloses the commission of various cognizable offences including the offences covered under prevention of corruption Act,” advocate RP Luthra said in the petition.
Former Supreme Court judge Katju had alleged three former chief justices of India - Justice RC Lahoti, Justice YK Sabharwal and Justice KG Balakrishnan - made “improper compromises” and succumbed to political pressure during the UPA rule from one of its allies, apparently the DMK, in allowing the judge to continue despite an “adverse” Intelligence Bureau (IB) report on allegations of corruption against him.
Seeking registration of a case and CBI investigation in the matter, Luthra said after the revelation by Justice Katju on his blog and it subsequent discussion in the Parliament, the authorities have not initiated any legal action in the matter.
“Admittedly, as per the information available in the public domain, the offenders belong to the class who enjoys almost the highest positions in the judiciary,” the PIL said adding that the incident has “lower-down the dignity of our judicial system in the eyes of general public.”
“To avoid further damage also to ensure that no such incident shall happen in the future, the authorities concern ought to have initiated a legal action as required under section 154 /157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 for commission of such cognizable offenses,” the PIL said.
“Since the offences relate to the prevention of corruption Act and screening of offenders, that too, with deep-rooted conspiracy and hence, there is no other efficacious remedy available, except of filing of the present petition,” the PIL added.
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