Petitioner in Person creates drama in CJI’s court; Says no judge except J. Lodha has guts to hear Petition against corrupt judges

A ninety year old party in person Nirmal Jit Singh Hoon created drama in the Supreme Court today demanding that his petition on corruption in judiciary should be heard by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) RM Lodha alone as no other judge of the Supreme Court “have the courage and guts” to hear the matter..The events unfolded before a three judge Bench presided by CJI Lodha and comprising Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Nariman..Three cases filed by Hoon pertaining to corruption in judiciary came up for hearing today. Two of them were listed before a Bench presided by Justice SJ Mukhopadhaya and one was before the Chief Justice’ Bench. When the case listed before the CJI’s Bench was taken up, CJI Lodha directed that the matter be tagged along with the other two pending before Justice Mukhopadhaya’s Bench. Hoon, immediately, objected to the same:.“Only your lordship should hear this case. None of the other judges have the courage and guts to hear this matter.”.Lodha, however, was not keen on hearing the matter but Hoon was in no mood to budge. He kept insisting and refused to leave saying that other judges were not capable of hearing the case..When Justice Kurian Joseph proceeded to say something to Hoon, he responded by saying that he was speaking to Justice Lodha only and not to Justice Joseph. Agitated by this remark, both Justice Lodha and Justice Joseph proceeded to reprimand Hoon..“Don’t use such expressions like no other judges have courage. When my brother judge asks you something, you have to respond to it. We respected your seniority and heard you. But don’t make us do something which is required to be done by us”, said Justice Lodha..Justice Joseph also joined him saying that, .“Judges derive their courage and power from the Constitution of India” and that the “CJI takes no special oath under the Constitution.”.All the three petitions filed by Hoon will now be heard by a Bench presided by Justice Mukhopadhaya..Hoon’s petitions against judges include the one in which he has sought an inquiry into the age of former CJI Altamas Kabir.