According to the Veeraswamy judgment, if there are allegations of corruption against a sitting Chief Justice, the President will consult senior justices and decide on an action
The hearing in court number 13 was brief, yet packed a punch. Allegations of impropriety flew thick and fast. However, there was no conclusion and the matter was withdrawn.
The issue listed before a Bench comprising Justices AK Goel and UU Lalit involved a letter written by Dangwimsai Pul, wife of late Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Kalikho Pul. In the letter, Pul sought permission from the Chief Justice to initiate an inquiry into the allegations of corruption her late husband had made against several sitting Supreme Court (SC) judges.
The President and several top lawyers were also mentioned in the 60-page suicide letter that was typewritten in Hindi and bore the signature of the late CM on every page. On Thursday, almost a week since Dangwimsai made her husband's suicide note public, Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the widow, vehemently objected to the Bench hearing the matter.
"The letter sought a redressal from the SC administration. We are surprised it is listed before your Lordships," Dave said. "This is a very sensitive matter. Justice must be done. If you go ahead, it will send a wrong message," the lawyer argued.
"If your Lordships insist on hearing the matter, we will not participate in the proceedings and seek permission to withdraw our letter," he said.
Aggrieved that the matter was listed, Dave submitted that he was entitled to know who instructed the registry to treat the letter itself as a criminal petition and list it as such. Dave then questioned the Bench hearing the matter. After seeking recusal, the advocate submitted that if the matter was to be heard at all, there were several other Benches that would be more appropriate and in tune with an earlier judgment passed in a similar situation.
The advocate, addressing the Bench in a crowded courtroom, then made a startling disclosure: "I cannot say much, but a former judge of this court approached me on Monday in this matter." Dave, however, refused to divulge more details.
Dave also questioned the quorum listening to the matter. Referring to Justice Karnan's January letter, Dave alleged that even that letter which alleged corruption among several sitting and former judges, and invoked the wrath of the SC, was heard by a seven-judge Constitution Bench consisting of seniormost judges. Here, when the allegations are far more grave, not even a full Bench of three judges is hearing the matter, let alone senior judges in the order of hierarchy.
Submitting that the Veeraswamy judgment applied in this case, Dave said that the letter sought administrative redressal and not judicial.
According to the Veeraswamy judgment, if there are allegations of corruption against a sitting Chief Justice, the President will consult senior justices and decide on an action.
After the hearing, Dave addressed the media and stated that he would take one of the several avenues available to him, including approaching the country's Vice-President.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Supreme Court")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}