READY TO FORGET JUSTICE LOYA?

The suspicious death of a CBI Court judge - Justice Loya - is possibly one of the most important issues of our time and we need to urgently discuss this matter in the National Capital. 

The four senior most judges of the Supreme Court have just flagged the issue of the clear and present threat to the Constitutional principle of an independent judiciary. The CJI, it is indicated, may be misusing his powers as master of the roster to selectively assign sensitive cases to benches that might influence the outcome in favour of the ruling Government. The petition seeking a probe into Justice Loya's death may itself have been one of the cases to have triggered the judges' Press Conference.

But Justice Loya's death itself raises similar questions about the then Bombay HC Chief Justice, and the possibility that benches were similarly rigged to help Amit Shah achieve a discharge in the Sohrabuddin murder case. The Supreme Court had ordered that the trial be heard by the same judge from start to finish. Yet Justice Utpat who first heard the trial and who had been stern towards Amit Shah, was transferred and replaced by Justice Loya. Members of Justice Loya's family have alleged that his death - of an apparent heart attack - was suspicious. They say the Chief Justice of the Bombay HC had sought to bribe him to discharge Amit Shah, and he had declined.

Are certain parties able to wield influence enough to secure favourable benches in the High Courts, CBI Courts and Supreme Court? Was Justice Loya's death - conveniently in time to be replaced by a judge who discharged Shah - a signal of the extent to which certain parties are willing to go to ensure a favourable bench? If so, what are the implications for our democracy?

These are issues urgently needing to be publicly discussed. But we can see how a large part of our media is conspiring to bury this story and divert attention from it. At such a time, the AIPF is holding a public meeting where Retired Justice BG Kolse Patil, Ms Indira Jaising, Uday Gaware of the Latur Bar Association, Niranjan Takle whose investigative journalism brought the issue to light, and Hartosh Bal of the Caravan will discuss the questions surrounding Justice Loya's death.

We appeal to you to help us raise the funds to cover our speakers' travel expenses and other costs of the event. 

[ONLY INDIAN NATIONALS CAN MAKE A CONTRIBUTION. PAYMENTS MADE BY OCI, PIO STATUS INDIVIDUALS CAN NOT BE PROCESSED]

All India People's Forum (AIPF)

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