Speaking to the media after the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking an independent inquiry into the death of special CBI Judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan said that it was a “black day for the Indian judiciary,” on Thursday, 19 April.
“The Supreme Court has said that there is no reason to not trust the statement of the four lower court judges that they had given to the Maharashtra Police, and hence they have quashed the demand for an independent inquiry,” said Bhushan.
He added, “The four lower court judges in their statement had reportedly claimed that Judge Loya stayed with them in Nagpur, and when he complained of chest pain he was shifted to a hospital.”
Not just Bhushan, but petitioner Tehseen Poonawalla too was indignant .
The Supreme Court’s verdict is final and binding on each one of us. But, the fact of the matter is not what happened inside the court. The fact of the matter is the lacuna in the inquiry and that has not been addressed.Tehseen Poonawalla, petitioner, to ANI
While reading the judgment, Justice Chandrachud said there was no merit in the petitions, while expressing their anguish by the conduct of the counsel of the petitioners. Frivolous and motivated petitions should be discouraged, he said, adding that it was against the judiciary.
The Supreme Court went on to say that the petitioners have launched a veiled attempt to malign the judiciary and the credibility of judicial institutions has been questioned.
Judge Loya's death had come under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case.
(With inputs from PTI)
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