Chandigarh, January 13: The top four judges of Supreme Court on Friday held a press conference and expressed their differences with Chief Justice of India(CJI), the rift within the top court judges was exposed just a day after recommended fresh appointments. The yesterday incident is termed as the first of its kind in the history of the Indian judiciary by law experts. But in 2004 something similar happened when judges of Punjab & Haryana High Court protested against the then Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court BK Roy. Thirteen years ago showing their protest against Chief Justice 25 High Court judges went on casual leave together.
The issue was raised when Chief Justice Roy sought a clarification from two judges for getting the membership at a golf resort near capital city Chandigarh despite the fact that it was confronting case for infringement of ecological standards, among others. Later Roy accused judges of contacting registrar directly to get cases listed in their courts without his knowledge in a TV interview given during the incident. Even judges approached then Chief Justice of India and told him that it is not possible to work with Justice Roy.
A source said that the issue of the protest was just an excuse at that time the real reason behind it was that the Justice Roy put a hold on the practice of kins of serving and former judges getting their cases listed before their choice of judge. Later on the recommendation of the collegium, Roy was transferred to Guwahati next year.
A public interest litigation was filed in the Supreme Court against the 25 judges for the High Court agitation. The top court threw it out on the grounds that the judges came back to work following day, terming the plea “infructuous”.