New Delhi, May 21: A month after the Supreme Court rejected their plea for an independent probe into the death of Justice Brijmohan Harikishan Loya, the Bombay Lawyers Association has again petitioned the apex court, seeking a review of its earlier order.
Senior advocate Dushyant Dave, who appeared as counsel for the Association, has submitted the review plea before the court. The case is expected to be listed up for hearing in the forthcoming weeks.
The petitioners, along with the Opposition, are likely to seek the constitution of a larger bench to hear the review petition.
A three-judge bench, comprising of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud had dismissed the demand for an independent probe last month. While issuing their ruling in the case on April 19, the bench rapped the petitioners, charging them of being "politically motiviated".
“There is no reason for the court to doubt the clear and consistent statements of the four judicial officers. The documentary material on the record indicates that the death of judge Loya was due to natural causes,” the court had ruled.
Justice Loya had died of a cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014. Ahead of his death, he was heading the bench of CBI court which was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, listing Amit Shah as a prime accused.
The judge breathed his last in Nagpur, where he had went to attend the wedding of his colleague's daughter. His death was reported in the wee hours of the day, after he suffered from a heart attack at around 4:00 am.
The Congress had supported the petition seeking an independent probe. After the court had rejected the plea, the party had issued a statement marking its dissent.
"Today is a ‘Sad Letter Day’ in India’s history. Verdict of the Honorable Supreme Court has left many questions unanswered for all those seeking fair investigation and justice in the death of Judge Loya. BJP’s attempts to make false political capital out of Supreme Court judgment must be condemned," Congress' spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had said.
The BJP, however, welcomed the verdict, calling it a "slap on the face" of those who wanted to malign their party president, Amit Shah.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 21, 2018 10:48 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).