Govt seeks IB report on allahabad hc chief justice

The government has sought an intelligence report on the allegations against Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, whose promotion to the Supreme Court has been put on hold.

The government has sought an intelligence report on the allegations against Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, whose promotion to the Supreme Court has been put on hold.

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The law ministry has asked the Intelligence Bureau to “discreetly verify” whether there is any truth in the corruption allegations levelled against Justice Prasad, HT has learnt.

In a rare move, the government had last week stalled the recommendation made by the Supreme Court panel of senior-most judges (collegium) to promote Justice Prasad to the top court of the country.

The file containing his recommendation had been forwarded by the law ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office to the President for final approval, when it was decided not to clear his name for promotion.

The move followed a representation against the judge, which detailed several allegations against him. “The procedure will be followed and all doubts cleared before taking any decision,” said a senior government official.

Justice Prasad refused to comment, but sources close to him blamed Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra for the representation against him. “We know the entire campaign is being run by her. She is bitter at not being considered by the collegium for the Supreme Court,” said a source.

An angry Justice Mishra warned against her name being dragged into the issue. “I do not talk to the media and respond to such irresponsible queries. Those dragging my name should be careful,” she told HT.