New Delhi, May 14 (HS): The Supreme Court has refused to grant an urgent hearing on a petition seeking the registration of an FIR against Justice Yashwant Verma. The bench headed by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai instructed the petitioner and Advocate Mathews Nedumpara to follow the procedures for mentioning.

Former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna had put a stop to oral mentioning for expedited hearings. For this, lawyers and parties are required to email the Supreme Court Registry in advance. The petition filed by lawyer Nedumpara and two other petitioners demands that the Delhi Police be directed to register an FIR in this matter and conduct an effective investigation. The petition states that the three-member inquiry committee constituted by the Chief Justice does not have the authority to investigate the incident of fire at Justice Verma’s residence. That incident falls under various cognizable offenses under the Indian Penal Code.

The petition argues that giving the inquiry committee the authority to conduct such an investigation is meaningless, as the Supreme Court Collegium does not have the power to issue such orders. It further states that when the fire department and the Delhi Police engaged in fire extinguishing efforts, this constitutes a cognizable offense under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, and it is the police’s duty to register an FIR.

The petition asserts that this is a matter of possessing black money through judicial corruption. It also questions why, even if Justice Verma’s statement is to be believed, he did not have an FIR registered. It is noteworthy that after the fire at Justice Yashwant Verma’s house on March 14, cash was recovered by the fire department.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar