BackDelhi HC refers PIL against Justice H.L. Dattu’s appointment as CJI to special bench
HC's decision comes after petitioner raises objection to inclusion of Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw on bench that was hearing her case
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New Delhi: A public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a former official of the research and analysis wing (RAW) challenging the appointment of H.L. Dattu as the next chief justice of India (CJI) will be heard by a special bench on Friday, the Delhi high court said on Thursday.
The high court’s decision came after petitioner Nisha Priya Bhatia raised an objection to the inclusion of Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw on the bench that was hearing her case. Chief justice G. Rohini said that to avoid any controversy, a special bench would be constituted to hear the matter.
In her petition, Bhatia had accused justice Dattu of sexual harassment and criminal conspiracy and asked the court to quash the recommendation of the council of ministers for his appointment as the next CJI.
Additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain said Bhatia’s petition amounted to a contempt of court and her objection to Endlaw was just a means to “somehow keep this matter alive".
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