Aryan Grover
In an order passed by a division bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde, it was decided that Judge Arun Bhardwaj and Judge Sanjay Bhansal would replace Judge Bharat Prashar in the trial of the Coalgate related cases, which will now be conducted by two separate special courts. The order was passed after considering suggestions made by Senior Counsel and Special Public Prosecutor in the matter, RS Cheema. Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, also acceded to the suggestions.
The Delhi High Court’s Registrar General had sent a letter, seeking permission to nominate another suitable presiding judicial officer as judge in place of Parashar, who has been presiding over the trial in coal scam cases since 2014.
This letter was taken into account and the Apex court had requested the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court to nominate five trial court judges of “high calibre and absolute integrity” who could replace Parashar.
RS Cheema submitted in this matter that such cases are to be disposed within two years as per law, which might be extended up to four times by periods of six months each. Therefore, it was time that Parashar be replaced as the special judge.
Having the five names suggested to it, CJI Bode had this to say, “We don’t have their ACRs. We believe all of them are good since they have been sent by the Delhi High Court Registrar General.”