The Supreme Court ruled that the judge died of natural causes, adding the petitions were a serious attempts to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice.
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a batch of petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of Judge B H Loya, who died in December 2014 while trying the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case.
The top court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra called the petition ‘frivolous’ and said that it was an attempt to malign the judiciary.
The court further observed that Judge Loya’s death was “natural”, and no further probe was required in the case.
Here are the five things that the Supreme Court observed:
1. There is no merit in the petitions and there is no reason to doubt the statements of sitting judges (those who were with Judge Loya).
2. Attempts were made to scandalise judiciary by levelling serious allegations against judicial officers and judges of Bombay HC.
3. Documents placed on record and their scrutiny establishes that Loya's death was due to natural cause.
4. It becomes clear that with these petitions real attempt and frontal attack was made on independence of judiciary.
5. Frivolous and motivated litigation has been filed to settle political rivalry.
6. The PILs were without any truth and attempt was made to malign the judiciary.
7. Courts are not the place to settle business or political rivalry which has to be fought in markets or elections.
8. During arguments, counsel for petitioners forgot to maintain institutional civility towards judges and made wild allegations.
9. Thought of initiating contempt proceedings against petitioners but decided not to go ahead with it.
10. Attempts made by senior advocates and activist lawyers to make insinuations against judges including that of the apex court.
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