Nobody can influence judiciary: CJI on Dutt row

Chief Justice of India K G Balkrishnan on Thursday pooh-poohed the idea of the government or anybody influencing the Supreme Court in its verdict on actor Sanjay Dutt’s appeal challenging his conviction by a TADA court in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

Chief Justice of India K G Balkrishnan on Thursday pooh-poohed the idea of the government or anybody influencing the Supreme Court in its verdict on actor Sanjay Dutt’s appeal challenging his conviction by a TADA court in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

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“We have not even constituted the bench to hear the cases. I have nothing to say. The case is not yet even posted before a bench. Because there are many accused in the case. The case is not even posted for hearing. So where is the question of anybody influencing,” he shot back.

The Chief Justice made the remarks in response to queries from mediapersons on Dutt’s allegation that a union minister had threatened the actor of an adverse verdict from the apex court if he decides to contest the Lucknow Lok Sabha seat on a Samajwadi Party ticket.

Dutt is facing a six-year sentence in the case and has filed an appeal in the apex court. On the impeachment proceedings against Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court, he said, Parliament had a “serious responsibility” to decide the issue.

“Impeachment proceedings are to be held by Parliament. A resolution has to be moved in Parliament and before that the committee constituted by the Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha will give its opinion. How can I say? The House has to take a decision. It is a serious responsibility of the House,” the Chief Justice said.