NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed a Lokpal order that allowed it to entertain complaints against high court judges under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.
A special bench headed by Justice B R Gavai issued a notice to the Centre and others, seeking their responses in the suo motu proceedings initiated over the Lokpal’s January 27 order.
The apex court described the Lokpal’s decision as “very disturbing,” stating that it undermines the independence of the judiciary.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also argued that a high court judge does not fall within the Lokpal’s jurisdiction and called the order erroneous.
The bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Abhay S Oka, restrained the complainant from disclosing the name of the sitting high court judge against whom the complaint was filed and directed him to keep the complaint confidential.
The Lokpal had passed the order based on two complaints against a sitting additional judge of a high court. The allegations claimed that the judge influenced an additional district judge in the state, as well as another high court judge handling a suit filed against the complainant by a private company.
It was further alleged that the private company had previously been a client of the high court judge when he was practising as an advocate.