Petition in SC seeks judicial probe against Justice Sabharwal

New Delhi, Sep 24 (UNI) A writ petition was today filed in the Supreme Court seeking judicial inquiry into the allegations being made against former Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal that sealing orders were passed by him to benefit his two sons.

Manohar Lal Sharma, an advocate, in his petition has said the press reports related to Justice Sabharwal were lowering the dignity and respect of the Supreme Court as well as judiciary among the masses and the integrity and reputation of the entire judicial system in the country is at stake.

The petitioner has also contended that in light of the views expressed by two retired CJIs namely Justices J S Verma and V N Khare and two retired Supreme Court Judges namely Justices V R Krishna Iyer and P B Sawant, Justice Sabharwal should offer himself for judicial inquiry to come clean on the allegations.

According to the petitioner 'there is no smoke without fire' and such allegations were a serious threat to the basic structure of the constitution as judiciary is one of the three organs of the state and the reputation of this great institution is being sullied as a result of the ongoing controversy.

Four journalists of Mid-Day including its editor have been sent to four months imprisonment for contempt of court for publishing reports suggesting that Justice Sabharwal's sons were having business interest in some big shopping malls and the sealing orders passed by bench headed by Justice Sabharwal as CJI were passed for personal monetary gains to his sons.

The four journalists are on bail.

The petitioner has prayed to the court to set up a judicial committee to look into this matter or to get the inquiry conducted in any other manner which this honourable court may deem fit to clear the picture.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing this week.

UNI