CJI calls NAN scam case to be heard by a Bench led by himself
The Hindu
The State government had objected to the reference of the case to a fresh Bench of Justices M.R. Shah and Hima Kohli.
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud on Monday informed the Chhattisgarh government that petitions concerning the Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN) scam will be heard by a three-judge Bench led by himself.
Justices Ajay Rastogi and S. Ravindra Bhat would be accompanying him as associate judges on the Bench.
Justices Rastogi and Bhat were associate judges on an earlier Bench led by Chief Justice Chandrachud ‘s immediate predecessor in office, Justice U.U. Lalit, who had retired on November 8.
The State government had objected to the reference of the case to a fresh Bench of Justices M.R. Shah and Hima Kohli.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, in repeated oral mentionings before Chief Justice Chandrachud, had argued that the case should ideally have been, according to convention, referred to either Justice Rastogi or Justice Bhat.
Mr. Sibal had questioned the reference of the case to the Bench led by Justice Shah.
“I will be replacing Justice Lalit on the Bench. Justices Rastogi and Bhat will join,” the CJI addressed Mr. Sibal during an oral mentioning on Monday.