Justice UU Lalit Recuses From Hearing Plea Against Andhra CM Jagan Mohan Reddy Over Press Conference Against Justice Ramana

Supreme Court Judge Justice UU Lalit has recused himself from hearing petitions against Andhra Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and his Government over the press conference and letter accusing Justice Ramana and Andhra High Court Judges.

When the matter came up on the docket, Justice Lalit said, "I have difficulty, I can't hear this matter. As a lawyer, I have represented parties in this matter in litigations. We will say 'list before a bench of which Lalit, J. is nota part...We will direct the registry to seek appropriate instructions from the Chief Justice of India and list it before the appropriate court at the earliest"

The two petitions have been filed against Andhra Pradesh Government's Press Conference, wherein Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy revealed that he had written a letter to Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, making allegations against Supreme Court Judge NV Ramana.

Underlining the importance of the independence and integrity of the judiciary, one of the pleas has been filed by Advocate GS Mani, seeking the records of the sitting Chief Minister and to declare that he has no authority to hold his office as he is misusing the same.

"It is not permissible that the 3rd Respondent, Sh. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is Chief Minister of State of Andhra Pradesh holding the constitutional post by misusing his official post, power and office of Chief Minister of State of Andhra Pradesh making false, vague, scandalized remarks and political allegation against the Senior Most Sitting judge of this Hon'ble Court openly in the public and media after sending a communication to the Chief Justice of India."

Submitting that the Executive should not encroach the Judiciary's sphere by making false allegations, the plea attempts to highlight the injury that can be caused to public confidence and faith bestowed in the Judiciary by making "false, vague and scandalized remarks and political allegation openly in the public and media".

It is stated that the sitting Chief Minister's involvement in a number of criminal cases with the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Court, and therefore, avers that the allegations have been made to tarnish the reputation of the Court for personal gain and motive.

The second petition has been filed on behalf of Sunil Kumar Singh, a practicing lawyer, through Advocate-on-Record Mukti Singh, and seeks a stop on such press briefings by the Chief Minister against judges and to issue "show cause notice" to him as to why suitable action should not be taken against him.

Averring in the grounds, inter alia, that the act and deed of the Respondent is an attempt to tarnish the Majesty of the Highest court of the country, the plea states that the Press Conference by the Chief Minister made unsubstantiated allegations against an honourable judge of this Hon'ble court.

The petitioner contends that Reddy has "crossed the limit" which has been prescribed by the Constitution.