September 26, 2018:

On Wednesday, Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the appointment of Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next Chief Justice of India by stating that the petition was "devoid of merits".

Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice A M Khanwilkar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said, "We are of the view that it is not the stage to interfere (with the appointment)."

Two Lawyers the petition against Justice Gogoi's appointment as the next CJI.

In the petition, Advocate R P Luthra and Advocate Satyaveer Sharma had said they were seeking adjudication of the question of Law relying on the contents of the press conference of January 12, called by 4 Senior Judges (Justice Chelameswar (since retd), Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Kurian Joseph) of the Apex Court.

The petitioners were also relying on an undated letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India and circulated by the four Apex Court Judges.

The petition had alleged, "This act of the four senior-most judges of the court was not less than a sabotage to the judicial system of the country. They tried to arouse public agitation in the country in the names of certain internal differences in this court."

It had said that "the petitioners are aggrieved of the actions and omissions on the part of respondent 1 (Union of India) and respondent 2 (Chief Justice of India), which has resulted into appointment of respondent 3 (Justice Ranjan Gogoi) as the Chief Justice of India instead of reprimanding him for his illegal and anti-institutional act".

The petition had claimed that the act of Respondent 1 and Respondent 2 "is illegal and unconstitutional and also against the canons of law because the appointment on the highest post of judiciary has been awarded to a person who is guilty of committing judicial impropriety and judicial misconduct".

It had sought cancelling of the order of the appointment of Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the Chief Justice of India with effect from October 3.

On September 3, the President appointed Justice Gogoi as the 46th Chief Justice of India. He will take oath on October 3 after the retirement of Chief Justice Dipak Misra.

Justice Gogoi will be the first Chief Justice of India from Assam. The warrant of appointment of Justice Gogoi as Chief Justice had come in less than 10 days after Chief Justice Dipak Misra recommended his name as successor.

Justice Gogoi would have a tenure as Chief Justice of India of about 13 months till his retirement on November 17, 2019.

Source:Deccan Chronicle

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