Top court order on plea seeking recusal of judge on October 23

New Delhi, October 16

The Supreme Court will pronounce on October 23 its order on pleas seeking recusal of Justice Arun Mishra from a five-judge Constitution Bench hearing petitions relating to certain issues under the Land Acquisition Act, 2013.

The Bench concluded the hearing on the plea made by various farmers’ associations and private individuals demanding Justice Mishra’s recusal. They had sought his recusal on the ground that he was part of a verdict pronounced last year in which he had already expressed his mind.

Justice Mishra was part of a Bench that, in February 2018, held that land acquisition by government can’t be quashed for delay on the part of land owners in accepting compensation within five years on account of litigation.

A 2014 verdict had earlier held that land acquisition can be quashed on account of delay in accepting compensation. The issue was referred to a larger Bench on March 6 in view of conflicting verdicts by two benches. — TNS