11-judge bench of Patna High Court 'suspends' single judge's order critical of judiciary
Patna: In an unprecedented action, an 11-judge bench of the Patna High Court on Thursday "suspended" an order passed by a single judge which was critical of the judiciary.
The bench, led by Chief Justice A P Sahi, held that the order passed Wednesday was an "attack on judicial hierarchy, judicial integrity and majesty of the court", according to Advocate General of Bihar Lalit Kishor.
"Justice Rakesh Kumar had, in his detailed order passed Wednesday, expressed his concerns over alleged casteism and corruption in the high court and the entire judicial system. He had also made some adverse remarks against judges who have retired or passed away," Kishor said here.
"Taking a serious note of the matter, Chief Justice A P Sahi constituted a bench comprising 11 judges which today took a grim view of the single judge order and suspended it observing that it was tantamount to an attack on judicial hierarchy, judicial integrity and majesty of the court," he said.
"The bench also ruled that the contents of the single judge order shall not be communicated anywhere" and that "the order of the 11-judge bench will be kept with the chief justice on the administrative side for further line of action", he added.
Justice Kumar had passed the order while taking suo motu cognisance of grant of bail to retired IAS officer K P Ramaiah by a vigilance court here, a year after he had turned down the anticipatory bail plea of the former bureaucrat, who is an accused in a corruption case.
Earlier, a notice was published in the court's registry on behalf of the Chief Justice stating "all the matters pending before Justice Rakesh Kumar, sitting singly including tied up/part heard or otherwise stand withdrawn with immediate effect".
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
