New Delhi: The Supreme Court has fired two officials after it came to light that they had allegedly tampered with an order related to the Ericsson-Anil Ambani case. Manav Sharma and Tapan Kumar Chakrabarty were issued sacking orders by Chief Justice Ranjan Kumar Gogoi after the two uploaded on the court’s website that Ambani will not have appear personally in court.
The case is being heard by Justice Fali Nariman and he issued a ruling January 7 that Ambani will have to appear in court. However, the Supreme Court website said in the order ‘personal appearance of the alleged contemnor(s) is dispensed with’.
The discrepancy was first noticed by a lawyer representing Ericsson who brought it to the attention of Justice Nariman. Subsequently the order was rectified January 10. Along with a probe was also launched internally as to how the mistake had occurred following which Sharma and Chakrabarty were found have committed the error.
Before their dismissal, Sharma and Chakraborty held the rank of assistant registrars, whose duties include taking down all orders dictated in open court or in the judges’ chambers.
The two were dismissed using the court’s extraordinary powers under Article 311 of the Constitution and the dismissal orders were signed by the Chief Justice.
After the revised order was uploaded, Ambani appeared before the court January 12 and 13.
Agencies