Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri on Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea challenging the Centre's decision to appoint M Nageswara Rao as interim CBI director.
A bench headed by Justice Sikri listed the matter for Friday for hearing before a different bench.
As soon as the matter came up for hearing, Justice Sikri told senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for petitioner NGO Common Cause, that he would not like to hear the matter and was recusing himself.
"You understand my position. I can't hear this matter," Justice Sikri said.
Justice Sikri was part of the high powered panel which had removed CBI Director Alok Verma.