Madras High Court Chief Justice recuses from hearing petition against Kiran Bedi

CHENNAI: A PIL petition was filed in the Madras High Court on Friday seeking the recall of Kiran Bedi, who is the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) of Puducherry since 2016.The PIL petition came up before the First Bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Indira Banerjee, who recused from hearing the case and later posted the matter before another Bench of Justices C T Selvam and N Sathish Kumar.

The CJ said that occasions may arise very often for her to get in touch with the L-G or meet her in her official capacity and so it may not be proper on her part to hear the case.In his petition, CPI Puducherry unit secretary T Murugan alleged that right from the date of assumption of office, Bedi had never respected the Constitution. She did not believe in the concept of separation of powers and the procedures prescribed under the Constitution and had miserably and conclusively failed to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, thereby violating the oath taken by her.

Referring to various instances, the petitioner said that the L-G had also interfered with the functioning and powers of the judiciary, legislative and executive. Violation of the Constitution has become an everyday affair.

Violation of norms and taking decisions on issues that are outside her jurisdiction and functioning in an autocratic manner with one-point agenda of gaining popularity and publicity have become the order of the day, the petitioner alleged and prayed to the court to issue a direction to the Union Home Ministry to recall her.