Katju's charge against judges: Petition in Delhi HC seeks CBI probe

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today asked a petitioner, seeking a CBI probe into Press Council of India head Markandey Katju’s charge that three former Chief Justices of India made “improper compromises” to save a “tainted” judge of the Madras High Court, to “examine” a Supreme Court verdict on the issue in 2009. “The Supreme Court has already dealt with this very particular issue in 2009 and had given a judgement on it. Where is the question of examining it by another court? You file Public Interest Litigation without preparing for it. [caption id=“attachment_1645433” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Markandey Katju. Reuters[/caption] “Please examine that decision (of the Supreme Court) and then come back,” a bench headed by Chief Justice G Rohini said. The court also asked what new evidence has the petitioner collected at this stage to hear the matter. The court, however, fixed the matter for hearing on September 3 and directed the petitioner, R P Luthra, to examine the apex court findings with regard to the allegations made by justice Katju. The court was hearing a plea seeking directions to CBI to undertake an investigation into justice Katju’s allegations and register an FIR in the matter. The petition has contended that as per the allegations of the former Supreme Court judge Katju, commission of various cognizable offences, including those under the Prevention of Corruption Act and IPC, have been disclosed. “The petitioner most humbly submits that the information disclosed by Justice Katju clearly disclosed the commission of various cognizable offences including offences covered under the Prevention of Corruption Act, screening offenders under the IPC and, admittedly, these offences are cognizable offences for which a wide publicity was given through electronic and print media. “That, however, to the knowledge of the petitioner, none of the authorities responsible have initiated appropriate legal action,” the petition said. PTI