Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday raised questions on Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s impartiality following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the CJI’s residence for Ganesh Puja and demanded the CJI should recuse himself from the hearing on Sena versus Sena case.
Uddhav Thackeray group has challenged Maharashtra Speaker’s decision to recognise Eknath Shinde-led faction as real Shiv Sena and the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.
Speaking to mediapersons, Raut questioned whether the ongoing hearing on Maharashtra’s political crisis could be affected by this public association between the two.
“Ganpati festival is going on, people visit each other’s houses. I don’t have info regarding how many houses PM visited so far…but PM went to CJI’s house and they together performed ‘Aarti’,” Raut remarked.
The Shiv Sena leader expressed doubts about receiving a fair judgment in the Sena vs Sena case.
“If a custodian of the Constitution meets politicians, it can create doubt in the minds of people. The hearing of our Maharashtra case is going on before CJI Chandrachud, and we have doubts if we will get justice because PM Modi is the other party in the case,” he added.
Raut further demanded that CJI Chandrachud distance himself from the hearing in the Maharashtra matter.
“The Chief Justice should distance himself from this case because his relationship with the other party in the case is openly visible,” Raut insisted.
He pointed to the alleged central government involvement, adding that the PM’s active interest in maintaining the current “illegal government” in Maharashtra was troubling.
“The CJI, who is supposed to give us justice, shares such a bond with the PM. This has created a serious doubt in the minds of people in Maharashtra,” Raut added.
His remarks came after Modi visited CJI’s residence and they together performed Ganesh Puja on Wednesday.