SC Hints at Transfer of Bench in Judge Loya’s Case?

The court order suggested that the judge Loya case be placed “before the appropriate bench.”

The Supreme Court bench – comprising of Justices Arun Mishra and M Shantanagoudaron – hearing the judge BH Loya case, in its adjourning order on petitions seeking independent probe into the death of the special CBI judge, hinted that the PIL might be moved to a new bench.

The court order, dated 16 January, read that the matter to be placed “before the appropriate bench.”

The matter assumes importance as four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court, in an unprecedented press conference on 12 January, expressed concerns about the functioning of the apex court and allotment of cases to the various benches. During the conference, they hinted that it was related to judge Loya’s death.

However, there is no change in the composition of the bench that is going to commence hearing important PILs from 17 January, and the bench does not include any of the four dissenting judges.

The various petitions include the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar, entry of women in Sabarimala, change of religious identity of Parsi woman, and the review of Section 377 ruling.