Supreme Court Stays Lokpal Decision: The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 20), on the orders of the Lokpal to consider complaints against a current judge of the High Court, called it a ‘very disturbing order’. A special bench headed by Justice BR Gawai has issued notice to the Center and others regarding the action taken by taking automatic cognizance on the order passed by the Lokpal on 27 January. The back also consists of Justice Suryakant and Justice Abhay S Oka.
A bench of Justices BR Gawai, Suryakant and Abhay S Oka has issued a notice to the registrar of both the Center and the Lokpal. The order was passed by the Lokpal to exercise the rights of the High Court on January 27, which was sharply criticized by the Supreme Court.
The bench has stopped the complainant from revealing the name of the judge. He also directed the complainant to keep his complaint confidential. The Lokpal passed the order on two complaints filed against a current additional judge of the High Court. In these complaints, it was alleged that he impressed an additional district judge of the state and a judge of the same High Court in favor of that company.
It was alleged that the judge had to hear the case filed against the complainant by a private company. It has been alleged that the private company was a high court judge when he (judge) advocated. According to the ‘Bar and Bench’ report, Justice Gawai commented on the case taken from the Swaprerana by the court, saying, “This is a very disturbing thing.”
The apex court said that the matter is related to the independence of the judiciary. So it is “very important”. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Center, said that the judges of the High Court will never come under the purview of the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act. He said, “Every judge is a High Court.” Senior advocate Kapil Sibal also argued that the Lokpal’s order was “exceptionally disturbing”. According to the report of the Bar and Bench, Sibal demanded a ban on the order of the Lokpal, saying, “It is full of danger.”
What did Lokpal ordered?
The order of the Lokpal came to hear two complaints against a High Court judge. In this, he was accused of influencing additional district judge and another High Court judge in one case. Complaints were also sent by the Lokpal to the Chief Justice of India. Judge AM The full bench of the Lokpal headed by Khanwilkar ruled that since the judges of the High Court fulfill the definition of public servant. Therefore, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 do not keep the judges out of it.
However, it also decided to first contact the CJI for guidance on the case and postponed further action on complaints. The Lokpal removed the name of the judge and the High Court before making his decision public. The next hearing of the case is likely to be held by the Supreme Court on March 21.