GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21st Nov. The Supreme Court stated on Monday that a three-judge bench led by CJI D Y Chandrachud would hear the Enforcement Directorate’s request to transfer a corruption case related to the ‘Nagrik Apurti Nigam’ or PDS scam outside Chhattisgarh.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Chhattisgarh government, informed a bench consisting of the CJI and Justice Hima Kohli that the ED’s plea had been relisted today before a bench headed by Justice M R Shah.
The CJI explained the circumstances that led to the matter being heard before the same bench again on Monday, and said that a three-judge bench comprised of him and justices Ajay Rastogi and S Ravindra Bhat would hear it on an unspecified day.
“As the matter was heard by the CJI Lalit (since retired) and two colleagues, I can direct it to be heard by me and two colleagues – Justice Bhat and Justice Rastogi. I will keep it on a miscellaneous day,” the CJI said.
The Chhattisgarh government recently told the bench headed by Justice Shah not to proceed with the matter as it needed to be heard by a three-judge bench, and then Sibal brought it before the CJI’s bench.
Following that, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta lamented the growing trend of vilifying the top judiciary and judges if an order in a political matter does not suit a litigating party.
Due to a lack of time with the then-CJI, a bench comprised of then-CJI U U Lalit, now retired, and justices Ajay Rastogi and S Ravindra Bhat removed the ED’s plea from the cause list.
The case was then assigned to a bench composed of Justices Shah and Kohli.
The alleged scam was unearthed in February 2015, during the BJP government of Raman Singh.
The ACB raided the offices of Nagrik Apurti Nigam (NAN), the agency in charge of ensuring the smooth operation of the Public Distribution System, and seized Rs 3.64 crore in unaccounted cash.
The FIR accused officials and others associated with the state Civil Supplies Corporation, Raipur, of widespread corruption in the procurement and transportation of rice and other food grains.
Comments are closed.