CJI, 4 SC judges discuss work allocation

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Thursday held a meeting with four senior-most Supreme Court judges to resolve issues raised by them during a press conference on January 12.

On Wednesday, the meeting could not take place as Justice Chelameswar was indisposed.

A proposal on rostering Supreme Court judges and the allocation of sensitive cases have been suggested to Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra by the judges

In a 30-minute meeting on Thursday morning at his chambers, the Chief Justice reportedly assured the "rebel" judges that he would look into their proposal on the roster.

"The meeting was cordial, more are likely to take place next week," said sources. Four more judges were present at Thursday's meeting, which is the second this week to resolve an unprecedented rift between the country's top judges.

Apart from Justices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur and Kurien Joseph — who criticised Chief Justice Misra in an unprecedented press conference — the others at the meeting were Justices AK Sikri, NV Ramana, DY Chandrachud and UU Lalit.

The dissenting judges have reportedly stressed on a plan to address their concerns about the "administration of the Supreme Court", mainly the manner in "cases with far-reaching consequences" are assigned.

In a related development, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking to restrain the media from publishing, discussing and politicising issues raised by four senior-most judges in the January 12 press conference.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it would look into the matter only after the apex court Registry takes the petition on record and lists it for hearing.