CJI Khehar blasts States: Is this Apex Court of India or a Joke?

January,17,2017:

Is this some kind of game the States are playing with the Supreme Court?, CJI asked.

Furious at the lackadaisical attitude of states in filing responses to petitions raising important public interest issues, on Monday, Chief Justice of India J S Khehar was furious over lackadaisical attitude of the States in filling the responses to petitions raising Public Interest issues.

He stated that,"Is this a Joke Court or Supreme Court?".

CJI's comment came while hearing first of the three matters, which were Public Interest Litigations.

The SC had sought state governments' response on the first case -a PIL by NGO Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti -on December 9, 2013.

First in firing line was the Samajwadi Party ruled Uttar Pradesh.

CJI asked Counsel for Uttar Pradesh,“Why no response till date? Is it a joke or something?“

But CJI Khehar soon realised that the replies had not come from Haryana and Chhattisgarh,West Bengal, Kerala, Delhi and  Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

CJI while reprimanding the erring States stated that,“Is this some kind of game the states are playing with the SC?".

CJI further ordered that ordering erring states to file the responses in four weeks, failing to which their Environment Secretary would remain present in the Court.

Chief Justice further added that, “Is this some sort of Panchayat going on here that States are not serious?“

Apex Court noted that the certain defaulting States had been barred from filing their responses and also asked debarred States to send their transport secretaries to Court during the next hearing.