Opinions can change, says CJI Bobde; defends farm panel
The farmers have rejected the Supreme Court panel saying all the four members had backed the contentious laws.
Published: 20th January 2021 10:59 AM | Last Updated: 20th January 2021 10:59 AM | A+A A-
Chief Justice of India Sharad Bobde (Photo | Shekhar Yadav, EPS)
NEW DELHI: A day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea related to farmers’ protest, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde remarked that person is not disqualified to be a member of a committee merely because he/she has previously expressed an opinion on the subject matter which is under consideration by that committee.
“There is a very peculiar lack of comprehension about constitution of a committee,” said a three-judge bench, comprising CJI Bobde and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Vineet Saran.
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“There is some confusion regarding the law. One person may have an opinion before being part of the committee, but his opinion can change. There is no way that such a person cannot be part of the committee,” the CJI said.
Though the remarks were made during the hearing of a case pertaining to inefficiencies in criminal trial, it assumes significance as the SC had come under criticism not only from farmers but also political parties over the nomination of members to the committee that was set up to resolve the stalemate over the three farm laws.
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The farmers have rejected the panel saying all the four members had backed the contentious laws. After the uproar, one of the members — Bhupinder Singh Mann —recused himself from the committee citing the prevailing sentiments and apprehensions amongst the farmers.
