BENGALURU: High Court Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee on Tuesday
recused himself from hearing a writ appeal filed by Upalokayukta-II Subhash B. Adi, questioning the high court order of March 2 dismissing his petition. Justice Adi challenged the legality of the motion adopted against him by the Assembly for his ouster as Upalokayukta-II.
The High Court on March 2 refused to interfere in the process initiated in the Assembly, saying it cannot review the proceedings as it is within the domain of the Legislature. The court had dismissed the petition, saying it was not maintainable.
When Justice Adi's appeal came up before the division bench, headed by Justice S.K. Mukherjee, the Chief Justice recused himself. The court said, “Since one of us (S.K. Mukherjee, Chief Justice) is not willing to take up these matters on personal grounds, these writ appeals stand released from our list. The Registrar (Judicial) is requested to place these matters before the Chief Justice for necessary orders.” PIL dismissed
The High Court on Tuesday rejected a PIL seeking transparency in the selection process of judges. Advocate M. Veerabhadraiah had prayed that eligibility criteria and the procedure of appointment of judges to the High Court be made available online.
Stressing that members of the Bar be given a more proactive role in such appointments, the PIL had sought the names of those eligible for elevation to be made available on the High Court and Department of Justice websites, and a mechanism for receiving complaints against potential judges. It had also sought to do away with the practice of elevating district judges to the High Court merely on the basis of seniority.
