The Supreme Court today took a stern view of the state government seeking constant adjournment in the Gujarat Fake Encounter case..When the matter came up for hearing today before a Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the counsel appearing for Gujarat sought adjournment in the matter..He said that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who has been appearing for the state in the case, was on his legs in another court and requested that the matter be adjourned to any date next week..CJI Gogoi, however, did not receive the request favourably..“State of Gujarat cannot seek adjournment again and again and again..“If he can’t give priority to a case on court 1 and wants to go to some other court, that is his decision. But he has to make arrangements here”, remarked Justice Gogoi before he proceeded to hear the case..The crux of the issue discussed today was regarding the validity of the report submitted by Justice (Retd) HS Bedi, who is heading the Monitoring Committee in the case..The Gujarat government had earlier objected to the report on the ground that the same was submitted by Justice Bedi alone and not by the Monitoring Committee..The Court had, therefore, sought an explanation from Justice Bedi on the same..When the matter was taken up today, Justice Gogoi said that Justice Bedi has submitted an 8-page explanation. As per his explanation, there was a specific direction by the Supreme Court that the report be submitted by the Chairperson of the Monitoring Committee..Justice Bedi also maintained that he had consulted other members of the Monitoring Committee, but had submitted the report under his signature since there was a specific direction to that effect by the Supreme Court..“Should we not serve the petitioner a copy of the report when it is by a former judge in whom this court has reposed faith and confidence?”, asked Justice Gogoi to the Gujarat counsel..The Court then proceeded to direct that a copy of the report be furnished on the petitioners, BG Verghese and Javed Akhtar..The Court, however, made it clear that it has not accepted the report yet, but is only giving opportunity to the parties to file their objections to the report..The matter will now be heard after four weeks.
The Supreme Court today took a stern view of the state government seeking constant adjournment in the Gujarat Fake Encounter case..When the matter came up for hearing today before a Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, the counsel appearing for Gujarat sought adjournment in the matter..He said that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who has been appearing for the state in the case, was on his legs in another court and requested that the matter be adjourned to any date next week..CJI Gogoi, however, did not receive the request favourably..“State of Gujarat cannot seek adjournment again and again and again..“If he can’t give priority to a case on court 1 and wants to go to some other court, that is his decision. But he has to make arrangements here”, remarked Justice Gogoi before he proceeded to hear the case..The crux of the issue discussed today was regarding the validity of the report submitted by Justice (Retd) HS Bedi, who is heading the Monitoring Committee in the case..The Gujarat government had earlier objected to the report on the ground that the same was submitted by Justice Bedi alone and not by the Monitoring Committee..The Court had, therefore, sought an explanation from Justice Bedi on the same..When the matter was taken up today, Justice Gogoi said that Justice Bedi has submitted an 8-page explanation. As per his explanation, there was a specific direction by the Supreme Court that the report be submitted by the Chairperson of the Monitoring Committee..Justice Bedi also maintained that he had consulted other members of the Monitoring Committee, but had submitted the report under his signature since there was a specific direction to that effect by the Supreme Court..“Should we not serve the petitioner a copy of the report when it is by a former judge in whom this court has reposed faith and confidence?”, asked Justice Gogoi to the Gujarat counsel..The Court then proceeded to direct that a copy of the report be furnished on the petitioners, BG Verghese and Javed Akhtar..The Court, however, made it clear that it has not accepted the report yet, but is only giving opportunity to the parties to file their objections to the report..The matter will now be heard after four weeks.
