Jagan Vs Judges : Supreme Court Justice Recuses Himself

Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan’s controversial letter to the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde accusing sitting Supreme Court Justice NV Ramana has kicked up a major debate after CM Jagan’s Principal Adviser Ajeya Kallam made the letter public. These direct allegations of a Chief Minister on a senior-most Supreme Court Judge who is in the race to be the CJI has become a national topic. Several writ petitions were filed against CM Jagan on the issue. The Supreme Court is going to hear the separate pleas on the issue. Amidst this, all eyes are on the Supreme Court’s hearing today. 

Meanwhile, in a latest and significant development today, Supreme Court Justice UU Lalit has recused himself – to disquality oneself from participation in the trail to avoid a ‘conflict of interest’ – in hearing the writ petitions related to the issue.

While Justice NV Ramana has remained silent on the issue, he however, indirectly responded on it saying that “vibrant independent judiciary is required in the present times”. He asked judges to be fearless and withstand the “pressure” during a condolence meet for a senior judge. Meanwhile, All India Judges Association has condemned CM Jagan’s letter to SA Bobde. It passed a resolution against Jagan’s missive. The judges body opined that CM Jagan’s letter aims to “coerce judiciary”.