HC to hear plea Aug 1 for CBI probe into Katju's allegations

The Delhi High Court will hear Aug 1 a PIL seeking a CBI probe into Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju accusing three former chief justices of India of making "improper compromises" to save a tainted judge of the Madras High Court.

A division bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw will hear the plea that seeks registration of a case and a CBI probe into the matter, saying that even after Justice Katju's revealation on his blog and its subsequent discussion in parliament, the authorities are yet to initiate any legal action.

Filing the plea, advocate R.P. Luthra said: "The information disclosed by Justice Katju, a former SC judge, clearly discloses the commission of various cognizable offences including the offences covered under prevention of corruption act."

Former Supreme Court judge Katju has alleged that three former chief justices of India - Justice R.C. Lahoti, Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Justice K.G. Balakrishnan - made "improper compromises" and succumbed to political pressure during the UPA rule from one of its allies, apparently the DMK, in allowing the judge to continue despite an "adverse" Intelligence Bureau (IB) report on allegations of corruption against him.

The PIL said: "Admittedly, as per the information available in the public domain, the offenders belong to the class that enjoys almost the highest positions in the judiciary."

It added that the incident has "lowered-down the dignity of our judicial system in the eyes of general public."

"To avoid further damage also to ensure that no such incident shall happen in the future, the authorities concern ought to have initiated a legal action as required under section 154 /157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 for commission of such cognizable offenses," the plea said.

It further added: "Since the offences relate to the Prevention of Corruption Act and screening of offenders, that too, with deep-rooted conspiracy and hence, there is no other efficacious remedy available, except of filing of the present petition."