New Delhi: Justice Arun Mishra on Tuesday shot down the plea for his recusal from hearing a batch of petitions relating to the interpretation of the provisions of 2013 Land Acquisition Act relating to the enforcement of the awards of the lands acquired under the earlier 1894 law which has now lapsed.
The Constitution bench will examine the correctness of the two judgments, one of which is authored by him.
“If I am satisfied about my integrity that I can decide this matter independently I will not recuse. If I know I can be influenced by anybody other than God, then I will be the first person to recuse,” Justice Mishra heading the five-judge Constitution bench said as the bench embarked on hearing arguments for laying down the law to govern the recusal by the judges.
“I may be criticised, I may not be a hero, I may be a blemished person, but if I’m satisfied that my conscience is clear, my integrity is clear before God, I will not budge. If I think I will be influenced by any extraneous factor, I will be the first to recuse here,” said Justice Mishra leaving nothing in doubt that he was not going to recuse.
Other judges on the Constitution bench include Justice Indira Banerjee, Justice Vineet Saran, Justice M.R. Shah and Justice S. Ravinder Bhat.
