court considerationNew Delhi, Jan 13 (PTI) Justice Kurian Joseph, one of thefour Supreme Court judges who virtually revolted against thechief justice, today expressed confidence that the issuesraised by them would be resolved, while the apex court barbody said the matter should be considered by the full court.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) expressed "graveconcern" over the differences of the seniormost judges withCJI Dipak Misra.
The SCBA executive committee, which held an emergencymeeting, resolved that all public interest litigation (PIL)matters, including the pending PILs, should be either taken upby the CJI or be assigned for adjudication to the four seniorjudges who were part of the apex court collegium.
Meanwhile, the Bar Council of India (BCI), the apex bodyof lawyers, formed a seven-member team to meet the judges ofthe Supreme Court tomorrow to discuss the present crisis inthe apex court.
It passed a resolution, saying no political party orleaders should take "undue advantage" of the situation arisingout of the press conference by the top court judges.
In an unprecedented move, justices J Chelameswar, RanjanGogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph, had launched a publicattack against the CJI, listing a litany of problems,including the issue of assigning of cases.
Justice Joseph today said that they acted solely in theinterest of the judiciary and justice.
He rejected suggestions that they had violateddiscipline and expressed the hope that their action willbring more transparency in the administration of theSupreme Court.
"Stood up for justice and judiciary...That is what wesaid there (in New Delhi) yesterday. Nothing beyond that,"Justice Joseph said in Malayalam when local television newschannels approached him at his ancestral home in Kalady nearKochi, seeking his reaction on yesterday's development.
"An issue has come to attention. It will certainly besolved since it has come to the attention," he said.
However, Justice Ranjan Gogoi told PTI in Kolkata, "Thereis no crisis." He made the remark on the sidelines of aprogramme, when asked about the way forward to resolve thecrisis.
A day after the presser by the four judges, TV visualstoday showed prime minister's Principal Secretary NripendraMisra turning up at the residence of the CJI.
The visuals showed Nripendra Misra driving to the CJI'sofficial residence here. However, the gates were not openedand after waiting for a while, the principal secretary to theprime minister was seen driving back.
After the visuals were aired, the Congress was quick tocriticise the government.
"As PM's Principal Secretary, Nripendra Misra visitsCJI's residence at 5, Krishna Menon Marg; PM must answer thereason for sending this special messenger to Chief Justice ofIndia," Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewalatweeted.
SCBA President and senior advocate Vikas Singh said thata resolution for the full court consideration was passed as itis a mechanism in which deliberations by all the judges of thetop court takes place in-house and not in the open.
The SCBA resolution said that matters listed for hearingin the apex court on January 15 "should also be transferred"from other judges to the five seniormost judges who were partof the collegium.
The BCI cautioned the political parties and leaders fromtaking an "undue advantage" of the situation in the apexcourt.
It said the four seniormost judges going public withtheir differences with the CJI had given an opportunity to thepolitical parties and leaders to interfere in the affairs ofthe judiciary.
Without taking any name, BCI chairperson Manan KumarMishra said, "No political party or leader should take anundue advantage of the situation arising out of the pressconference of the four senior Supreme Court judges."The reference to political parties and leaders assumessignificance as Congress president Rahul Gandhi had yesterdayaddressed the media after the judges went public with theirgrievances.
At an emergency meeting called by the BCI's governingbody, comprising 17 members, the resolution was passed, sayingthe seven-member committee would meet all the apex courtjudges tomorrow.
Mishra later said that the members of the committee wouldalso meet the four judges and, in the end, the CJI.
The BCI said it was of the view that such issues shouldnot be made public. PTI ABA MNL SJK UK RKS NAB PYK SCH ENM TGBASK SCSC.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.