Justice Sikri recuses from hearing plea against Nageswara Rao’s appointment as interim CBI director

Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri on Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea challenging the Centre's decision to appoint M Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director.

Justice Sikri

New Delhi: Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri on Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea challenging the Centre's decision to appoint M Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director. A bench headed by Justice Sikri listed the matter for Friday for hearing before a different bench. As soon as the matter came up for hearing, Justice Sikri told senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for petitioner NGO Common Cause, that he would not like to hear the matter and was recusing himself. "You understand my position. I can't hear this matter," Justice Sikri said. Justice Sikri was part of the high powered panel which had removed CBI Director Alok Verma. The petition, filed by NGO Common Cause and RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj, has sought laying down of specific mechanisms to ensure transparency in the process of appointment of the CBI director. It alleged Rao’s appointment was not made on the basis of recommendations of the high-powered selection committee, comprising the Prime Minister, the leader of the single largest opposition party and Chief Justice of India or a judge of the top court nominated by him. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi has recused himself from hearing the plea and said that the petition should be heard by a court number 2 presided by justice AK Sikri. Seeking transparency in the process of short-listing, selection and appointment of the CBI director, justice Gogoi said he would be participating in a meeting of the selection panel to select the agency chief. The panel is likely to meet on Thursday.