One adverse order and NGOs gather, malign judges: SG Tushar Mehta to Supreme Court in NAN scam

The Solicitor General of India (SG) Tushar Mehta on Friday told the Supreme Court about the growing trend of judges being maligned on any adverse order being passed. .The SG, who was appearing for the Enforcement Directorate in a case relating to the Nagrik Apurti Nigam scam (NAN scam), said,"One order against one section in a political matter, NGOs gather and speeches are made in such seminars saying 'I don't trust this institution'." he said. .He added that if there is simply one order which is not to the liking of one section of society, articles are written maligning concerned judges."One order not to the liking of one section and articles are written maligning the concerned judges, I can't do either. I have only this forum to speak," the SG further stated..The submissions were made before Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli during mentioning of an issue relating to the listing of the NAN scam case before Justice MR Shah's benchThe case was previsouly being heard by then Chief Justice of India UU Lalit and Justices Ajay Rastogi and S Ravindra Bhat.The Chhattisgarh government objected to Justice Shah hearing the matter, seeking that the case be listed before Justices Ajay Rastogi and S Ravindra Bhat who were members of earlier bench..The multi-crore Public Distribution System scam from Chhattisgarh known as NAN scam came to light in 2015 when Economic Offences Investigation (EOI) and Anti-corruption Bureau, Raipur, Chhattisgarh conducted raids on February 12, 2015 in different district offices and residents of the officers of Chhattisgarh State Civil Supplies Corporation and Chhattisgarh State Warehousing Corporation including its headquarters at Raipur and had registered a case against the officers of the corporation..Those involved have been accused of supplying low quality rice, grams, salt etc.The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a money laundering case in connection with the scam against two IAS officers..It then moved the present plea seeking transfer of trial from Chhattisgarh alleging that a senior functionary of the government has been trying to weaken the predicate offence against the accused.The ED in its counter affidavit had alleged that the accused persons were in touch with a Chhattisgarh High Court judge through Constitutional functionaries who were helping the accused..During one of the earlier hearings, the SG had said that WhatsApp chats revealed connivance between accused IAS officers and those holding Constitutional posts."These highly placed officers in connivance with authorities in constitutional posts took advantage. I have not mentioned names. But I have WhatsApp chats. We have not revealed names so that faith of people is not shaken upon system," Mehta had said..Mehta had also alleged that the Chief Minister had met a Chhattisgarh High Court judge..During the previous hearing, Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for the State, vehemently denied the claim of the ED that the Chief Minister of the State had met a Chhattisgarh High Court judge in connection with the scam."We took instructions. The Chief Minister never met any High Court judge," Sibal contended."I only read a Whatsapp chat where a close...." Mehta responded.However, that bench had made it clear that it will not hear the case any further..[Read our live-coverage of today's hearing below]