Supreme Court Judge Justice Sheel Nagu has recused himself from hearing an appeal filed by the Punjab government. The case concerns a challenge to a High Court order that directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe an alleged bribery syndicate. The syndicate is reportedly linked to the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister and is accused of influencing government tenders, transfers, and staff postings.
The development occurred during the commencement of the hearing on Friday. Justice Dipankar Datta announced the decision, noting that Justice Nagu wished to step aside from the bench. Although senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, representing the Punjab government, stated that the state had no objection to the judge remaining part of the proceedings, the court maintained the decision to recuse.
Justice Datta addressed the concerns surrounding judicial impartiality, noting that in the current climate, information originates from numerous sources and it is difficult to anticipate from where challenges might emerge. He further remarked that the Supreme Court operates with 17 benches and indicated that the petition could be reassigned to a different panel. In the recent past, concerns regarding judicial neutrality have been raised in other high-profile matters, including an appeal involving AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, where a request for recusal was made regarding a Delhi High Court judge.
Following the proceedings, the court issued a formal order directing that the petition be relisted before a bench of which Justice Nagu is not a member. The case will now be heard by a newly constituted bench as the legal challenge against the high-level probe continues.
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