#AyodhyaDelayed: Here's why Justice Lalit recused himself from the case
What's the story
On Thursday, the Supreme Court adjourned the sensitive Ayodhya case for January 29 after one of the five judges in the Constitution bench recused himself. Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who headed the bench, said it was important a new bench is constituted to decide on date and hearing frequency. But why did Justice UU Lalit leave the case? We tell you.
Context
A new bench will be constituted
The bench, headed by CJI Gogoi and consisting of Justice SA Bobde, Justice NV Ramana, Justice UU Lalit and Justice DY Chandrachud, assembled to pronounce the dates of the hearing. But Dr. Rajeeev Dhavan, representing Muslim bodies, brought to notice that Justice Lalit appeared for former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh in a contempt case in the 1990s, when he was a lawyer.
Information
Justice Lalit soon exited the case
Dr. Dhavan noted he didn't have any problem with Justice Lalit's presence, but the latter decided to recuse himself. CJI Gogoi said till a new bench is constituted the case can't move further. The matter was adjourned for January 29.
The case
What happened in the 1990s?
The case Dr. Dhavan referred to is years old, 1994 precisely, and it sent Kalyan Singh to jail for one day. The Supreme Court had ordered the status quo of the site should be maintained and Singh filed an affidavit saying the order would be followed. But the court learned structures were being erected at the site and initiated contempt proceedings against Singh.
VHP's stand
VHP is not happy with progress in the case
Singh was found guilty by the SC. He was given token imprisonment of one day and fined Rs. 20,000. Notably, the top court's decision on the case miffed Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The right-wing body said Justice Lalit hasn't appeared for the case "neither in trial stage nor appeal." "The objections were merely ploys to delay further," the VHP said reacting on the recent development.