Third SC Judge Recuses From Hearing Plea Against Nageswara Rao’s Appointment as Interim CBI Chief

Justice Sikri was the CJI's nominee in the last meeting of the Selection Committee wherein Alok Verma was removed as the CBI director over an adverse report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).
Justice Sikri was the CJI’s nominee in the last meeting of the Selection Committee wherein Alok Verma was removed as the CBI director over an adverse report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

New Delhi: Justice NV Ramana recused himself from hearing the petition challenging the appointment of M Nageshwar Rao as the interim director of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

He is the third Supreme Court judge to have exited the case after Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice AK Sikri.

While, the CJI had withdrawn himself from hearing the PIL against the appointment of M Nageshwar Rao after the ouster of Alok Verma, as he is a part of the Selection Committee that will appoint the next CBI Director, Justice Sikri had recused himself without giving any reason, but had expressed his “predicament”.

Justice Sikri was the CJI’s nominee in the last meeting of the Selection Committee wherein Alok Verma was removed as the CBI director over an adverse report by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC).

Justice Sikri had proved to be the deciding vote since he voted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi against Verma while leader of the single largest party in opposition, Congress’s Mallikarjun Kharge, opposed the move.

The petition, filed by NGO Common Cause has also sought transparency in the process of short-listing, selection and appointment of the CBI Director. The Selection Committee, comprising the PM, the CJI and Kharge is set to meet on Friday for the appointment of the CBI chief.

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