Arvind Kejriwal sought to file a rejoinder in his recusal plea, alleging bias, but faced strong objections from SG Tushar Mehta over court procedure. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma allowed it as a written statement, calling it a special indulgence, and postponed the verdict to 4:30 PM.
Advocate Harish Chandra Shukla faces contempt charges for accusing a judge of bias during a murder case bail hearing. The Allahabad High Court deemed his allegations serious misconduct and initiated criminal contempt proceedings against him. The case will be investigated further, with Justice Siddharth recusing himself from it.
Justice JJ Munir of the Allahabad High Court expressed concern about aggressive litigants due to the judiciary’s hesitance to invoke contempt powers, respecting free speech rights. The court dismissed baseless allegations against a presiding officer, emphasizing the need for responsible exercise of rights and maintaining the integrity of the judiciary, imposing costs on the petitioner.
Justice G. Jayachandran criticized Justice G.R. Swaminathan for bias against State police and hasty decision-making in YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar’s detention case. Swaminathan’s failure to consult his bench partner and refusal to allow the State to file a counter affidavit led Jayachandran to declare Swaminathan’s opinion invalid. Swaminathan’s explanations were deemed inadequate.