CBI chief posting: Justice Sikri recuses himself from plea challenging Rao

New Delhi: After Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice AK Sikri of the Supreme Court Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea challenging the Centre’s decision to appoint M Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director.
Justice Sikri, who had represented CJI Gogoi on the high-powered committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi that controversially removed Alok Verma as CBI director January 10, did not give any specific reason for withdrawing from hearing the case.
“You understand my position. I can’t hear this matter,’’ Justice Sikri said.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, representing the petitioner NGO Common Cause, said, “It is becoming frustrating and it is giving an impression that your lordship does not want to hear this matter. Earlier, the CJI had recused when the matter was listed for hearing. Now your lordship is also recusing from the matter”.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led committee met here to decide the name of the next CBI chief, the post lying vacant following the unceremonious exit of Alok Verma early this month. The outcome of the meeting, which was held at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Lok Kalyan Marg, was not immediately known, they said. The meeting was attended by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge. The panel removed Verma, who was engaged in a fight with Rakesh Asthana over graft.