Justice Swarana Sharma recuses herself from excise policy case after initiating contempt action against Kejriwal, other AAP leaders
Justice Sharma clarified that she was not recusing herself but was only transferring the case to another bench as she has initiated the contempt proceedings
Justice Sharma clarified that she was not recusing herself but was only transferring the case to another bench as she has initiated the contempt proceedings
Justice Sharma clarified that she was not recusing herself but was only transferring the case to another bench as she has initiated the contempt proceedings
Justice Sharma clarified that she was not recusing herself but was only transferring the case to another bench as she has initiated the contempt proceedings
Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Thursday recused herself from hearing the liquor policy case linked to AAP leaders. This comes after she initiated contempt action against former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and four other AAP leaders.
Justice Sharma clarified that she was not recusing herself but was only transferring the case to another bench as she has initiated the contempt proceedings. Under the law, a judge initiating contempt proceedings cannot continue hearing the main matter.
"Arvind Kejriwal sought to destroy my reputation instead of availing legal remedies after I refused to recuse and a deliberate attempt to lower the court's authority can't be permitted in guise of free speech," Justice Sharma said.
The judge also initiated contempt proceedings against Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh, Durgesh Pathak, Vinay Mishra and Saurabh Bhardwaj.
"Deliberate attempt to lower court's authority can't be permitted in guise of free speech," the judge pointed out.
She claimed that Kejriwal "orchestrated a calculated campaign" to vilify her on social media instead of moving Supreme Court.
“If I continue to hear the case after the contempt proceedings, these parties can say I have a personal grudge against them,” she said.