Allahabad HC quashes summons against Jaitley

The Allahabad high court on Thursday quashed the summons issued by a lower court against Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and the proceedings initiated by it in connection with his criticism of the Supreme Court’s verdict striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission(NJAC).

Justice Yashwant Varma passed the order, allowing an application of Jaitley filed under Section 482 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which pertains to “inherent powers of the High Courts”.

Jaitley had challenged the October 19 order passed by a Judicial Magistrate of Mahoba district in UP, who had summoned him on November 19, while directing the police to register an FIR against him under Sections 124 A (sedition) and 505 (statements causing public mischief).