Justice Arun Mishra has been criticized for favoring the Modi government in his judgments, including several during court vacations that benefited Adani. He publicly called Modi a “visionary” and was allowed to keep his official house for 9 months after retirement, contrary to rules. Later, he was appointed NHRC Chief, where he did little for three years. Mahua Moitra called him an “Internationally Acclaimed Brown-noser” after his appointment as BCCI Ombudsman, highlighting concerns about political influence on judicial appointments.
Justice Arun Mishra faced significant criticism for his multiple judgments favoring industrialist Adani, amounting to tens of thousands of crores, some of which were issued during court vacations. He has consistently supported the Modi government in his rulings and even publicly referred to Modi as a “visionary.”
Following his retirement, the government allowed him to retain his official residence for nine months, contrary to regulations. He then served as the Chief of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for three years.
Recently, he was appointed as the Ombudsman and Ethics Officer for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which prompted a sharp rebuke from TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
She criticized the appointment on X, stating,
“Justice Arun Mishra appointed BCCI Ombudsman & Ethics Officer after illustrious stint at NHRC. An internationally acclaimed brown-noser who shames us both globally and locally.”
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan also voiced his concerns, asserting that Justice Mishra’s rulings significantly benefited Adani.
He remarked,
“Justice Arun Mishra gave many judgments (some during court vacations) to benefit Adani to the tune of tens of thousands of crores. He always favored the Modi government in every decision and publicly called Modi a visionary.”
He further noted that as a reward for his service, the government allowed Mishra to keep his official residence post-retirement.
Also Read: Former SC Justice Arun Mishra Appointed As BCCI Ombudsman And Ethics Officer
Justice Mishra was appointed as a Supreme Court judge on July 7, 2014, and retired on September 2, 2020, before taking on the NHRC chairperson role on June 2, 2021, a position he is expected to hold until June 1, 2024. His tenure in the Supreme Court was marked by controversy, including a notable exchange with his colleague, Justice MY Eqbal, in 2016.
He drew attention shortly before his retirement by praising Prime Minister Modi as a “versatile genius” during an international judicial conference, a statement that was later condemned by the Supreme Court Bar Association for undermining the independence of the judiciary.