The late night notification of transfer Justice S Muralidhar from the Delhi High Court has made the Lutyens lobby desperate.
The lobby called Murlidhar’s transfer as a malicious act to prevent an impartial investigation, which would have exposed the complicity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in the recent Delhi riots.
They alleged that the government’s move was aimed at saving BJP leaders including Kapil Mishra, who allegedly made “hate speeches”.
During a hearing filed by Harsh Mander, Justices Muralidhar Talwant Singh had criticised Delhi
Police for not registering a case against BJP leaders.
Mander, in his plea, had sought FIR against BJP leaders Kapil Mishra, Anurag Thakur, Parvesh Sahib Singh.
Who Is Who Of The Lobby
It would be interesting to know who Mander is before making a point.
Mander was a member of Sonia Gandhi headed National Advisory Council, which practically was extra-constitutional government outside the elected government. He also had taught at Jamia Millia Islamia and Jawaharlal Nehru University, which has been in the news for the violent anti-CAA protests.
In 2010, Mander was one of the members of the 32-member group which was entrusted to draft the Communal Violence Bill by NAC.
The the bill could have been proved to be one of the most disastrous laws if it were to be enacted. It assumed that only religious or linguistic minorities and people from the Scheduled Castes and Tribes could be the victims of communal violence conveniently ignoring all ground realities.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had opposed it by saying that the bill was anti-majority and presumed that the majority community is always to blame for the communal violence.
Another member of the group was Usha Ramanathan, who is a member of Amnesty International’s Advisory Panel on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. She was also anti-aadhaar crusader.
She has a very good acquaintence with urban naxal Gautam Navlakha, who has been booked by Pune Police for his alleged Maoist links and several other charges following the violence at Koregaon Bhima the next day.
They were speakers at an event concerning repeal of AFSPA across the country at JNU.
They also protested at Jantar Mantar calling Modi and Union Minister of Chemicals to resolve the issues related to additional compensation with regards to Bhopal gas disaster.
Usha is wife of Justice Muralidhar, who is hearing Mander’s plea, seeking FIR against BJP leaders. Before becoming a judge, he had worked pro-bono for Bhopal gas victims and those displaced by the Narmada dam. So, it is natural he is closely associated with the lobby.
Justice Muralidhar was a member of the two-man bench of the Delhi High Court that set aside the August 28 order of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate granting transit remand of Navlakha to the Maharashtra police, citing non-compliance of various mandatory legal requirements.
Muralidhar Reprimanded
He was once criticised by the Supreme Court for passing an interim order, granting Neeraj Singhal bail, despite being informed that the apex court was seized of the matter.
Singhal is accused of financial irregularities by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office, which alleged that he used to pay a substantial amount of salary to his employees in cash, particularly before the 2016 demonetisation of old Rs 500 and 1000 banknotes.
It did not refrain from expressing its disapproval to the same stating, “We may only observe that urgent mentioning of the case was made before the Bench presided over by the learned Chief Justice of India and hearing thereon continued after court hours on 29.08.2018. The matter was directed to be listed on the next day on 30.08.2018. Propriety demanded that the High Court should have showed deference and awaited orders in the present proceedings.”
“The haste with which the High Court was moved on the evening of 29.08.2018 at around 5:20 P.M. to implement its order, despite this Court being seized of the proceedings would indicate an attempt by Respondent No.1/Neeraj Singal to preempt the hearing before this Court by securing release. We express our disapproval,” the court said.
So, it should be clear now the link Justice Muralidhar, Usha Ramanathan, Mander and a section of media have – yes, they belong to hate-Modi and the Lutyens club.
Therefore, it was but natural for this lobby to be dismayed by Muralidhar’s transfer, when he was seized with Mander’s plea seeking FIR for BJP leaders.
In reality, the transfer issue has needlessly been politicised by the Congress.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, in a press conference today, clarified that the transfer was done pursuant to the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium headed by Chief Justice of India.
The collegium had recommended the transfer on February 12 after taking the consent of Justice Muralidhar.
Hence, Milord was expecting the transfer notification any time, and before it could come, he could have played his cards smartly in favour of the lobby by making observations that could be enough for them to pick and whip Modi and Shah, thereof.
Could this be a possibility? Could be.
