Coal scam: Justice KV Viswanathan recuses himself, CJI to reconstitute bench

New Delhi, Jan 16: Supreme Court judge Justice K V Viswanathan on Thursday recused himself from hearing coal scam cases, saying he had appeared in one of the matters as a lawyer.

The pleas seek modification of earlier Supreme Court orders that had barred the high courts from taking up appeals against trial court orders passed in criminal cases related to alleged illegal coal block allocations.

Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was heading the bench that comprised justices Sanjay Kumar and Viswanathan, said he would reconstitute a fresh three-judge bench to hear the cases in the week commencing February 10.

The bench deliberated upon the scope of appeals and the applicability of earlier orders restricting high courts from hearing these cases and asked the apex court registry to prepare a comprehensive compilation of all pending petitions related to 2014 and 2017 judgments that had barred the high court from hearing interlocutory appeals.

“The registry shall prepare a compilation of all cases where the special leave petitions (SLPs) are filed in terms of the judgments of this court in 2014 and 2017…

“The fresh bench shall exclude Justice Vishwanathan and shall be formed in the week commencing February 10,2025. Key question will be: Whether or not one who seeks stay of trial will not go by the procedure of CrPC but instead file a SLP in the Supreme Court,” the order said.

At the outset, Justice Vishwanathan said he was in “the Common Cause (the NGO which had filed the PIL in coal scam cases) case. This case was of the ED (Enforcement Directorate), but still…”.

The top court in 2014 quashed 214 coal blocks allocated by the Centre between 1993 and 2010 after taking note of the PILs and ordered a trial by a special CBI judge.

The bench had directed that any prayer for a stay or to impede the investigation or the trial could only be made before the Supreme Court, effectively barring other courts from entertaining such pleas. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Physical education to be core subject in schools, colleges 

Education minister admits physical education neglected for long in...

NPP strength goes up in Manipur  

Several senior leaders join NPP at Kohima prog   “NPP was...

Meghalaya, Assam NGOs share knowledge on agro-ecological practices

Shillong, June 28: A capacity-building workshop titled “Learning from...

Garukhuti in crisis: Crores spent, cows missing, questions unanswered

Guwahati, June 28: Confusion continues to mount over the...

Bishop’s call to ‘help one addict at a time’

Shillong, June 28: International Day against Drug Abuse and...

Govt plans competition to grow cherry blossom trees

Shillong, June 28: In its bid to ensure public...

13 killed in suicide attack in Pak’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Peshawar, Jun 28: At least 13 security personnel were...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img