Justice Chelameswar won’t hear Bhushan’s plea

New Delhi: Justice J. Chelameswar, the seniormost judge in the Supreme Court, on Thursday while refusing to hear a petition filed by senior advocate and former law minister against the authority of the CJI as a master of roster observed, “I don’t want to retire amid a tirade against me that I want to grab some office.”

When counsel Prashant Bhushan made a “mention” before him for hearing the PIL filed by his father, Justice Chelameswar, in an apparent reference to the talks and in the media that he wanted to become the Chief Justice of India, said, “Two months before my retirement, I don’t want it to be said that I am doing certain things because I want to grab some office.” The judge added that he does not want to exit the court with a “tirade” against him.

Mr Bhushan told Mr Chelameswar that the PIL had sought recusal of the CJI both in he administrative and judicial side. He pointed out that the PIL has challenged the CJI’s power to set up benches and, thus, it would be appropriate if Justice Chelameswar, being the most senior judge, issues suitable directive to the court registry for listing it.

But Justice Chelameswar said, “For reasons too obvious from the history of events in the last two months, I would not want to deal with this case. You have to understand my difficulty. I don’t want another reversal of my order within 24 hours.”

Justice Chelameswar further told Mr Bhushan: “Let the country take its own course. I have my own difficulties. You will have to explore other course. I don’t want to hear this matter on the heels of my retirement.”

Thereafter Mr Bhushan mentioned the matter in the Chief Justice’s court.