Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra's reference to the death of judge B H Loya 'long before his time' created uproar in Lok Sabha on Friday as Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused her of raising a matter settled by the Supreme Court, and warned of 'appropriate parliamentary action'.
Two petitions that sought an independent probe into Judge Loya's death had earlier been assigned to two judges including Justice Arun Mishra, the 10th most-senior judge of the Supreme Court.
'Pawar had made it very clear that investigation into the case of judge Loya was possible'
The SC said the petitions were a 'serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice'.
The chronology of events leading to the Supreme Court verdict.
'If there was no sign that Loya suffered a heart attack, then what made the judges who were accompanying him believe that he had a heart attack'
"We have carefully gone through the review petition and the connected papers, but we see no reason to interfere with the order impugned. The review petition is, accordingly, dismissed," the bench said.
The Maharashtra government had argued in the apex court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law.
'A number of facts are still left unaddressed by the Supreme Court judgment.' 'I think there are enough grounds for an inquiry to be ordered.'
It said the idea behind these petitions was to keep the 'pot boiling' against this individual and urged the apex court not to order an investigation which will create doubts about judges and the judiciary.
The Supreme Court on Friday termed as a "serious matter" the issue of alleged mysterious death of special Central Bureau of Investigation judge B H Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, and sought response from the Maharashtra government on pleas seeking an independent probe into it.
The arguments remained inconclusive and would continue on Friday.
The Congress engages in all sorts of conspiracies after its ruling family loses power, he alleged and added the attempt to use judiciary for political purposes was a 'new low' in Indian politics.
While the ruling party alleged an "invisible hand" behind the petitions, the opposition accused it of making "false political capital" by "misinterpreting" the apex court order.
The Congress said that there are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary.
MPs from several political parties, including the Congress, the Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham, met the president on Friday and presented him a memorandum with the demand.
He also cited media reports that the judge hearing the case has been replaced, and tagged on Twitter the report entitled "Sohrabuddin Sheikh case: Fresh questions as judge who lifted media gag and slammed CBI is replaced".
The top court said the judicial process will be reduced to a "charade" if the courts are burdened with such cases with extraneous reasons.
The apex court also asked to see "all documents" in the Loya death case.
While it's important for the courts to enjoy public trust, says Mitali Saran, the only way to protect the institution is to scrupulously prove its credibility.
'Judge Muralidhar was under transfer to Chandigarh for entirely opaque reasons but to abruptly ask him to leave day after a midnight hearing at his residence in Delhi that must have saved many lives manifests the arrogance of a Govt punch drunk on Power'
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said Justice S Muralidhar of the Delhi high court was transferred on the recommendation of the Supreme Court collegium and accused the Congress of politicising a routine transfer. He added that a "well-settled process" was followed in the transfer of Justice Muralidhar to the Punjab and Haryana high court.
The review petition filed by Bombay Lawyers Association has challenged the apex court's April 19 judgment.
While that created a stir so did the decision on his penultimate day at work with the Supreme Court rechristening its summer vacation "partial court working days", an issue that has led to criticism that the apex court judges enjoyed long breaks.
He could have blazed a trail that few Indian judges had. It was a missed opportunity of a lifetime, notes Ramesh Menon.
CBI judge B H Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case died in 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. The reason for his death was said to be caridac arrest.
While Jaitley posted his hard-hitting response to the opposition's move in Facebook, BJP fielded its spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi, who is also a lawyer, to take on the Congress.
Satish Uke has filed several petitions against BJP leaders, especially former Maharashtra chief minister Fadnavis.
According to police, Salian (28) allegedly committed suicide by jumping from a high-rise building in Malad area of Mumbai on June 8, 2020.
Slain gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh's brother on Friday moved the special CBI court seeking directions to conduct narco-analysis test on BJP President Amit Shah and 37 others accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati encounter cases.
As the hearing in the cases heated up again, the apex court took umbrage at the verbal duel between two senior lawyers Dushayan Dave and Pallav Shishodia, calling it 'unacceptable'.
The special Central Bureau of Investigation court yet again exempted Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah from appearing before it on Friday in connection with the alleged fake encounter cases of Tulsiram Prajapati and Sohrabuddin Sheikh.
None of the four judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- feature in the list of members of the 5-judge constitution bench.
The Bombay high court order quashing the gag order on reporting the court proceedings in the Sohrabuddin encounter case is a victory for every journalist and Indian, says Neeta Kolhatkar.
The retired judge said the January 12 presser had an impact and things started changing for good during the remaining part of Justice Dipak Misra's tenure as CJI and is now continuing under the stewardship of the justice Gogoi.
Jaitley also hinted that these very economic realities could decide whether the government sticks to a fiscal consolidation roadmap or not.
'The mainstream media is alive with discussion of the rights and wrongs of the situation.' 'Mass immolation is being rediscovered as a worthy goal for young women, and we have also consoled ourselves at length with the reflection that Muslims Are Bad while Rajputs Are Good,' says Mihir S Sharma.
'Here's a list of the things we should be reading more about in the media,' says Mitali Saran.
64 Rajya Sabha MPs have signed the notice for impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra under "five grounds of misbehaviour".
'If ever there was a decisive moment in the history of the Supreme Court where it has been under attack by the Executive, and the judges have boldly stood up for independence of the Judiciary, that time was now.' 'These four judges did a brilliant thing, they set an example.' 'They showed that they were fulfilling their duty to the Constitution and to God.' 'Don't allow fear to dictate your actions was their message.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances