The Supreme Court administrative on Thursday struck to its known stand before the apex court on judicial side that it was not in favour of revealing any information about the appointment and transfer of judges under the RTI Act as it would have “adverse” impact on the independence of judiciary.
The submission to this effect was made by attorney-general G.E. Vahanvati before a bench of Justices B. Sudershan Reddy and S.S. Nijjar while it was hearing the appeal of public information officer of the Supreme Court, against an order of the Central Information Commission asking the CJI to reveal information under the RTI Act in respect of the appointment of certain judges.
The attorney-general, appearing for the Supreme Court on administrative side, made a strong plea for referring the matter to a Constitution bench, arguing that it involved a very important constitutional question related to the “independence” of the judiciary.
However, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for a RTI applicant on whose petition the CIC passed the order, referred to some articles by former apex court judge and eminent jurist V.R. Krishna Iyer, who reportedly criticised certain judicial appointments made in recent past.
The bench, headed by Justice Reddy reserved its order on the question whether the case needed to be referred to a larger bench or not.
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Centre gets last chance for affidavit
AGE CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Nov. 18: The Supreme Court gave last opportunity to the Centre to file its affidavit in reply to Orissa’s suit, challenging the construction of Indira Sagar Project, popularly known as Polavaram dam, mainly benefiting Andhra Pradesh.
Since Centre had failed to submit its affidavit despite repeated directions, a bench of Justices M.K. Sharma and A.R. Dave gave six weeks’ time as last opportunity to the Centre, clarifying on Orissa’s objections.
Orissa had questioned the environment clearance given to the project by ministry of environment and forecast.