Deposing in the Nirav Modi extradition case before a UK High Court, Justice Markandey Katju had remarked that the fugitive businessman “is unlikely to get a fair trial back home in India and may be turned into a scapegoat.”
A PIL has been filed by Nand Kishore Garg in the Supreme Court on hearing the remark. The public interest litigation accuses the Judge of defaming the Indian Judicial System in a foreign court i.e of Westminster Magistracy of the United Kingdom.
It is the petitioner’s contention that such comments are baseless and harm the image of the judiciary. Serious action should be taken by courts in this matter that disregards the credibility of the judiciary and “erodes the public confidence in it.”
The petition requests the court to form a committee to decide on the remarks made by the judge and also lay down concrete guidelines on public criticism of judges. The manner of deposing before a foreign court has also been addressed.
Lawcutor 