Two SC officials dismissed for tampering

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 14

The Supreme Court has dismissed its two officials who allegedly tampered with a court order to make it appear favourable to Reliance Communication chairperson Anil Ambani in a contempt case.

Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi issued an order to this effect yesterday, summarily dismissing two assistant registrars who had taken down the judge’s orders and were responsible for getting it uploaded on the top court’s website.

Those sacked are court masters Manav Sharma and Tapan Kumar Chakraborty.

The action was taken on a complaint by Justice Rohinton Nariman, who was seized of a contempt matter against Ambani.

The CJI used his powers under Article 311 of the Constitution and other relevant rules that empowered him to dismiss any employee under “extraordinary” circumstances without resorting to normal disciplinary proceedings.

Justice Nariman had complained of tampering with his order passed in January issuing a show-cause notice of contempt to Ambani for his failure to clear outstanding dues to Ericsson India despite categorical undertakings to the court.

The order uploaded on the court’s website on January 7 said the “personal appearance of the alleged contemnor(s) is dispensed with”.

The SC rules required that a person issued a contempt notice must appear once and request for exemption from his/her personal appearance on next dates.

When the discrepancy was pointed out by senior advocate Dushyant Dave, Justice Nariman had expressed shock and the order was corrected. An inquiry into the matter suggested that deliberate tampering was done.