New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi recused himself Monday from hearing a plea challenging the appointment of M Nageswara Rao as the interim CBI director in the Supreme Court. The CJI said he would be part of the selection committee meeting to choose the new CBI director and hence he will opt out.
The high-powered selection committee comprises the Prime Minister, the leader of the largest opposition party (in this case the Congress) and the CJI or his nominee judge of the apex court.
A bench comprising CJI and Justice Sanjiv Khanna was hearing a PIL filed by NGO Common Cause challenging the appointment of Rao as interim CBI director.
The three-member panel, a few days back had appointed Rao with two voting for him while Mallikarjun Kharge opposing it.
PTI