CJAR SALUTES FOUR JUDGES FOR EXPOSING CJI’S ABUSE OF POWER

The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) of advocate Prashant Bhushan on Friday saluted the four Supreme Court judges for formally informing citizens of a dangerous pattern of the Chief Justice of India abusing his power as the master of roster in selectively assigning important and politically sensitive cases to particular benches of junior judges of his choice in an arbitrary manner.

“This would have a serious long term impact on democracy and the future of our republic. Though the judges did not mention it, but it is clear that the assignment of such cases to certain junior judges was to achieve a particular result, which in most cases can be seen to be in tune with the wishes of the government,” the CJAR said in a 4-page statement.

“The subversion of justice in this manner is particularly dangerous when there is a government in place which is trampling on people’s fundamental rights and constitutional values,” it said, noting that the CJI stands exposed for destroying the image of the court and subverting the course of justice.

The organisation, which has retired Supreme Court judges like Justices P B Sawant and H Suresh as its patrons, also cited seven instances of what it claimed as “abuse of the power of the master of roster” exercised by the CJI and cited how the CJI transferred a case filed by it to the junior judges which in turn dismissed the petition, imposing a cost of Rs 25 lakh on it.

“THE SUBVERSION of justice in this manner is particularly dangerous when there is a government in place which is trampling on people’s fundamental rights and constitutional values,” it said