New Delhi, January 17: The Supreme Court today rejected a plea for transferring to any other high court from Andhra Pradesh High Court a case relating to “disproportionate” assets of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu owing to alleged bench hunting by the former Chief Minister. A bench of justices B S Chauhan and T S Thakur refused to entertain the plea made by Y S Vijaya, MLA and wife of late AP Chief Minister Y S Rajashekar Reddy, on the ground that it would affect the morale of the judiciary as “it involved the credibility of an institution.” “Mr Rohtagi, does it not reflect on the institution? The Andhra Pradesh High Court is one of the senior most high courts in the country.
It will give an impression that there is not one bench there which can rise above political considerations,” the bench said. The apex court made the remark after counsel Mukul Rohtagi, appearing for Vijaya, submitted 8 benches of the high court had recused from hearing the case as certain advocates, who were not expected to appear before some judges, deliberately appeared before them to force their recusal. He explained the AP High Court has a “not-before-me” list under which judges/ advocates are not expected to hear or appear in certain cases owing to their personal acquaintance, relationship and other considerations.
In Naidu’s case, he said, despite the “not-before-me” list some of the advocates appeared in favour of the former Chief Minister and other respondents to force recusal of the judges. Thus, he said 8 benches recused and the matter was placed before another bench. However, the contention was disputed by counsel Harish Salve and Anil Divan appearing for some of the respondents who said there was no such recusal.
–PTI–