CBI vs CBI: Don''t think any of you deserve a hearing, says furious CJI over reply leak

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI director Alok Kumar Verma''s confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29.

The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday.

Satya Prakash
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 20

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure over the leak of CBI director Alok Kumar Verma's confidential reply in the media and adjourned the hearing in his case to November 29.

The response was filed by Verma and submitted to the secretary general in a sealed cover on Monday.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph handed over to senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, the copy of a report by a news portal, which has published the CBI director's response.

The Chief Justice refused to take up urgent mentioning of cases and straightaway took up CBI director Alok Verma's petition.

Nariman expressed surprise over publication of certain things submitted to the court in a sealed cover.

"One of us, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul, is not here from this evening till November 28," said CJI Ranjan Gogoi.

"We don't think anyone of you (Verma, Asthana and other CBI officers) deserve a hearing," the CJI said and adjourned the hearing for November 29.

It's not immediately clear what was the document, which the top court gave to senior advocate Fali Nariman for a response.

Nariman said the report given to him was related to the CVC proceedings on November 16.

The CJI was displeased over the delay on the part of the court staff in tracing copies of media reports the Bench wanted to hand over to Nariman.

The CJI gave two further reports of Verma's response published in the media to Nariman and took strong exception to Verma's response being published in a section of the press. He said: “We asked to maintain confidentiality and then everything is published.”

Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan contradicted Nariman saying he was authorised by Verma's advocate on record to mention Verma's plea on Monday.

Verma's advocate on record supported advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan saying she had instructions from Verma for mentioning of his case.

"This is not a platform where people come and submit something (in sealed cover) and go on to publish everything....This is a place where legal rights are adjudicated...we will set it right," said the CJI.

The CJI said: "So far as the court is concerned, nobody (no lawyer) is under any cloud...we don't need any clarification.”

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta wanted to say something on the behalf of the CVC, but the CJI refused him the permission.

Nariman reacted angrily to advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan for contradicting him.

Nariman said, "I am speaking with 67 years of experience...nothing should have been mentioned without informing the senior (Nariman himself) engaged in the case."

Nariman accepted the copies of media reports--three sets--and told the court, "Let it be on November 29 now."