‘Cannot Take a Call’: CJI Declines to Defer Hearing on Satyendar Jain’s Bail Plea Listed Before Another Bench

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Thursday declined to adjourned the hearing on the bail plea of AAP leader Satyendar Kumar Jain in a money laundering case, listed before another bench headed by Justice Bela M Trivedi, stating that the judge concerned will make the decision.

A bench comprising CJI and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was urged by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, representing Jain who is currently out on interim bail, to defer the proposed hearing on his plea by the Justice Trivedi-led bench during the day.

Singhvi mentioned that a bench comprising Justice A S Bopanna and Justice Trivedi had already heard substantial arguments in the case, and now the matter is listed before the bench on which Justice Bopanna is not a part.

“We wish to seek a deferment. If you (the CJI) can kindly see the case papers once,” the senior lawyer stated.

“I will not control what the judge concerned is doing in the matter listed before her. The judge who has the case will decide. I cannot. I cannot take a call,” the CJI stated.

Jain, who had approached the top court for bail, is currently on interim bail on health grounds.

The top court had granted the former Delhi minister interim bail on medical grounds for six weeks on May 26, and it has been extended from time to time.

The matter is listed on Thursday for hearing before a bench comprising Justice Trivedi and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma.