In yet another unprecedented move by Justice J Chelameswar, the soon to retire Supreme Court judge has declined to attend his farewell function to be organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) citing personal reasons. According to reports, when approached by SCBA, Justice J Chelameswar said that he was not comfortable with such events, and that he did not want a farewell function even when he was transferred from the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The members of SCBA said that they will again meet Justice Chelameswar to persuade him. They, however, expressed reservations whether they will be able to do so.
It is not the first time when Justice Chelameswar has hit the headlines. He has more often than not been in the news for his unprecedented moves. In January this year, for the first time, the nation witnessed a press conference held by the senior most sitting judges of the Supreme Court highlighting the issue of allotment of cases by CJI Dipak Misra. Justice J Chelameswar, leading the press conference that also included Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Kurian Jospeh, said:
“All four of us are convinced that unless this institution is preserved and it maintains its equanimity, democracy will survive in this country, or any country.”
It is important to note that the said allotment of cases issue, famously known as the ‘Master of Roster’ issue is still doing rounds with Opposition filing impeachment motion against CJI Dipak Misra.
Later, in March, Justice Chelameswar agin wrote a letter to CJI Dipak Misra, highlighting the ‘Executive encroachment’ in the judicial matters. In the letter, he highlighted the issue of ‘executive bidding’ by Justice Dinesh Maheswari, the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court for the elevation of Krishna Bhat, a District & Sessions Judge.
Justice J Chelameswar, who is due to retire on June 22nd, will serve as the senior most Supreme Court judge for one last time on May 18th, the last working day before the Court breaks for summer vacation.
(With inputs from News18)
