SC Dismisses Plea Against Appointment Of Dipak Misra As CJI, Imposes Rs. 10 Lakh

The Supreme Court has slapped fine of Rs. 10 lakh on controversial baba Swami Omji, who was one of the contestants in Bigg Boss 10, for filing a public interest petition for publicity.

Omji, along with a Delhi-based engineer and owner of an aluminum factory Mukesh Jain, in his petition had challenged the convention followed and the existing procedure adopted for the appointment of Chief Justice of India (CJI).

“Both of them appeared in person in the Court and argued in Hindi that Article 124 (2), (3) and (A) of the Constitution, does not mention that the CJI should recommend the name of a Judge for the next CJI. It rather says that the President of India should choose a Judge of his choice as the CJI."

Further, the petition questioned outgoing CJI JS Khehar’s recommendation of the second senior-most judge of the apex court Justice Dipak Misra as the next CJI.

After hearing both the petitioners for more than an hour, the bench headed by Justice Khehar, who demits his office on August 27, rejected the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying the same is “motivated and publicity stunt” and imposed a cost of Rs. 10 lakh on each petitioner - Omji and Jain.

Giving justification to his recommendation the name of Justice Misra as the next CJI, who is scheduled to take oath on August 28, the bench recorded the whole tenure of Justice Misra as judge of various high courts and judge of Supreme Court between the period since 1996 till date.

It was also recorded that the petitioners have denied  leveling any allegations against Justice Misra.

“Despite long tenure of Justice Misra as judge, petitioners have no allegations against him… having given thoughtful consideration, we are of the view that the instant petition is motivated, publicity stunt and needs to be deprecated,” the bench said and imposed the cost.

In the order, the bench directed the duo to pay the amount within a month’s time and the same amount should go to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

Omji is not new to controversies. However, he had hit the headline of all media for his sexiest comments, when he was a contestant in the house of Bigg Boss 10.