NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition filed by a lawyer who sought a direction to the Center to pay his fees $One crore as fees and expenses for filing six cases in 2018 for allegedly “bailing” Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalia Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the petition was “totally misunderstood”.
The Supreme Court was hearing the petition filed by Lucknow-based lawyer Ashok Pandey challenging the Lucknow bench order of the Allahabad High Court in March last year.
The Supreme Court rejected his plea, which sought a direction to the Center to pay $One crore as fees and expenses for six cases filed by him.
Pandey told the Supreme Court that he had filed six cases to “defend” CJI Misra.
The petitioner said that he had incurred expenses $2 thousand to litigate these cases and took money from his daughter in return.
The International Committee of Justice asked: “After making all kinds of accusations against the judges, why do you use the word honorable now?”
The petitioner referred to the press conference held in January 2018 by the then four senior judges of the Supreme Court.
He said: “Judges cannot hold a press conference against the Chief Justice and this is against norms.”
The CJI observed, “You have provided social service to the organisation. Social service is always priceless. How can it be evaluated in… $One crore or two crores?
The judge told the petitioner that he had done social service and if he wanted appreciation, “we would appreciate it.”
The petition challenging the Supreme Court order was dismissed.
Before the Supreme Court, the petitioner also appealed an order issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice in July 2024 requesting the payment of compensation. $Crores were disallowed as fees and expenses for filing six cases for allegedly bailing out the then CJI.
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