Role of CJI In Medical Scam Must Be Probed: Prashant Bhushan

This comes just days after the historic press conference held by four senior-most Supreme Court judges.

Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan, in a press conference on Tuesday, 16 January, said that he has registered a complaint against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, in connection with the medical college scam.

He demanded that an investigation be initiated to ascertain whether the CJI was involved in the scam.

In his capacity as the convener of the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR), Bhushan called for an inquiry against the chief justice for “various allegations of misconduct.”

Bhushan addressed the media days after Justices J Chelameshwar, Ranjan Gogoi, MB Lokur, and Kurian Joseph addressed a press conference stating that things were “not in order” in the country’s highest court.

The medical college scam is related to a college run by the Prasad Education Trust. The trust was initially denied permission to run the college; however, it has been alleged that a middleman played a key role in ensuring the trust gets the required permission.

Why Has CJAR Filed a Complaint?

The Campaign for Judicial Accountability & Judicial Reform (CJAR), in a statement released on Tuesday, 16 January, said it has filed a complaint against the sitting CJI on the following grounds:

1. There is prima facie evidence Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra may have been involved in the medical college bribery case, that is currently being investigated by the CBI and which was the subject of two petitions filed in November last year
2. The CJI dealt with the petitions himself, despite having been one of the judges on the bench which had previously heard the cases relating to the medical college scam, which was a clear conflict of interest
3. During the course of the proceedings relating to the petitions, CJI Misra appeared to have backdated an administrative order to make it look like it had been dated 6 November 2017, despite only being issued on 9 November 2017
4. While he was an advocate, he submitted a false affidavit to get certain agricultural land in Orissa allotted to him, and despite the allotment being cancelled because of this in 1985, only surrendered the land in 2012 after being elevated to the Supreme Court

(We Indians have much to talk about these days. But what would you tell India if you had the chance? Pick up the phone and write or record your Letter To India. Don’t be silent, tell her how you feel. Mail us your letter at [e-mail]. We’ll make sure India gets your message.)