SC stays Gujarat HC order on judges' plot allotment PIL

Gujarat HC had issued notices to its sitting and former judges and also a sitting apex court judge over the allotment of residential plots to them by the state govt

The Supreme Court today stayed the Gujarat High Court order issuing notices to its sitting and former judges and also a sitting apex court judge over the allotment of residential plots to them by the state government in a posh locality in Sola area in Ahmedabad.

"The high court was in mortal hurry. This should not have happened. Let the order be stayed. Let us see what can be done," a Bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu said.

The high court had yesterday also referred the matter to a larger Bench after framing a set of questions related to its suo motu PIL on the issue.

The apex court Bench also comprising Justices P C Ghose and C Nagappan issued notices to the Gujarat government, judges cooperative society and Registrar of the High Court, seeking their response within four weeks on a petition challenging the high court order.

The apex court also allowed deletion of names of sitting and former judges who were made respondents in the PIL and were issued notices.

The petition challenging the high court order was filed by one of the retired high court judges for whom senior advocate Harish Salve appeared and sought urgent intervention.

Salve questioned the hurry shown by the high court in entertaining a letter by turning it into PIL over allotment of plots which was made several years ago.

"It is not good," said Salve while assailing the high court order.

The apex court also allowed Gujarat High Court Bar Association to be impleaded as party in a petition before it.