Recusal by judges halts hearing in cases of Manish Sisodia, separatist Yasin Malik

New Delhi, July 11

Justice PV Sanjay Kumar of the Supreme Court on Thursday recused himself from hearing petitions of AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia seeking to revive his bail applications in money laundering and corruption cases linked to the excise policy scam.

Delhi Dy CM case listed for july 15

Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Sisodia, requested the Bench to list the matter urgently, saying time is of the essence. He said the trial has not yet commenced in both the cases. The Bench said another Bench will take it up on July 15.

As Sisodia’s matter was called out for hearing before a Bench of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Kumar, Justice Khanna said, “Our brother (Justice Kumar) has some difficulty. He would not like to hear this matter for personal reasons.”

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing Sisodia, urged the Bench to list it urgently. Justice Khanna said another Bench will take it up on July 15. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had to defer the hearing on petitions seeking review of its October 2023 verdict refusing to recognise same-sex marriages in India after Justice Khanna, one of the judges on the five-judge Bench, recused himself from the case due to personal reasons. In all cases of recusal by judges, the Chief Justice reconstitutes the Bench before the hearings could resume.

In the Delhi High Court, Justice Amit Sharma on Thursday recused himself from hearing an appeal by the NIA seeking death penalty for Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, a terror funding convict sentenced to life imprisonment.

Justice Sharma cited conflict of interest for his recusal as he previously worked as a Special Public Prosecutor for the NIA in 2010.