After CJI Ranjan Gogoi had recused himself from hearing the Common Cause petition against the appointment of Nageshwar Rao as interim director as CBI, Justice AK Sikri has also recused himself from the matter. The matter will now be heard by a different bench on Friday.
Justice AK Sikri recuses himself from hearing the plea filed by an NGO challenging M Nageshwar Rao’s appointment as the interim CBI director. Justice Sikri asks matter to be listed tomorrow.
— ANI (@ANI) January 24, 2019
Advocate for the petitioner, Dushyant Dave, was not pleased with the further delay and appeared to lash out at Justice Sikri. He stated that there was an impression that the Court does not wish to hear the matter and suggested that the Justices could have recused themselves earlier.
Justice AK Sikri seeks to recuse from CBI case.
Dushyant Dave takes objection.
“An impression is being created that Supreme Court does not want to hear the matter, CJI also recuses. If Your Lordships wants to recuse it could have been done before the hearing”, Dushyant Dave
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) January 24, 2019
Dave also expressed frustration towards the Court for what he felt was felicitating the ouster of Alok Verma.
#CBI #NageshwarRao: “This court goes out of its way when it comes to removal of Alok Verma, but when it comes to new appointment, it is not inclined to hear”, Dushyant Dave.#SupremeCourt
— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) January 24, 2019
Common Cause, an NGO that is eligible to receive donations from abroad, has been at the heart of the battle within the CBI. As we have reported earlier, the NGO had filed a PIL against the appointment of Rakesh Asthana as Special Director of the CBI. A PIL was also filed by the NGO against the Central Vigilance Commission and Central Government’s decision to divest Alok Verma of powers as CBI Director.
