AIIMS case: HC slams Centre for removal of judge

The Delhi High Court on Monday slammed the Centre for seeking removal of a judge from the bench hearing the All India Institute of Medical Sciences case saying it would send a "wrong message".

A Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain and Kailash Gambhir expressed displeasure over the government seeking removal of Justice Anil Kumar from the case relating to institute director P Venugopal on the ground that the judge had prejudged the issue and so he should not hear it.

"You can't quarrel with the judge and by doing so you will be sending a very wrong message," the court observed.

The Bench directed the Government to delete the prayer seeking removal of the judge.

The court fixed November 20 as the next date of hearing in the case in which it issued notice to Venugopal on an appeal filed by the central government and the institute challenging a single judge Bench order barring any adverse action against him.