The Supreme Court Justice S Ravindra Bhat on Monday recused himself from hearing a plea filed by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navalakha who sought house arrest instead of being lodged in jail.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Uday Umesh Lalit and Justice S Ravindra Bhat informed that Justice Bhat cannot hear the case when the matter came up for hearing.
CJI said “Justice Bhat cannot hear.the matter, now list this case before a bench with Justice Bhat. List before me on administrative side.”
The CJI said that the matter may now be listed before a bench headed by Justice KM Joseph because he had earlier heard the plea.
CJI Lalit remarked that “If I remember, this case was listed before me and Justice KM Joseph last. We will have this case listed before a bench with Justice Joseph.”
Navlakha has moved the top court against a Bombay High Court judgement dismissing his plea to be transferred from Taloja Prison and placed under house arrest instead.
The former Secretary of the People’s Union for Democratic Rights Gautam Navlakha was arrested in August 2018, but was initially placed under house arrest, later on he was moved to the Tajola Central Prison
He was later moved to Taloja Central Prison in Maharashtra in April 2020 after a Supreme Court order.
Depending on the order by the Supreme Court, in his default bail case, Navlakha moved the High Court pointing out that he was being denied basic medical aid and other necessities in Taloja and was suffering great hardships at his advanced age.