Govt assures full protection to SC Judge

New Delhi, Mar 16: The Government today assured the Rajya Sabha that full protection will be given to Supreme Court judge A R Lakshmanan who had received an anonymous letter casting aspersion on him for his way of dealing with the disproportionate assets case against Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy, however, told the House the Government would formally react to the whole episode after it received a report from the Chief Justice.

''We have taken a serious note of the matter and utmost protection will be provided to the judge and his family,'' he said.

The Minister's statement came after the ruling Congress Members led by Mr Narain Swamy created an uproar demanding that the House postpone the Private Members Bill and take up the matter.

The agitated members were referring to today's proceedings in the Supreme Court when Justice Lakshmanan, who had headed the bench that ordered a CBI inquiry against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and his family members in the disproportionate assets case, declined to hear the review petition after receiving the anonymous letter.

The judge virtually broke down in the court as hearing began on the review petition, filed by Mr Yadav's son and MP Akhilesh Yadav, challenging the apex court order for the CBI Inquiry.

''In my career of 17 and a half years as a judge of various High Courts and five years in Supreme Court, I have never received such a letter. I, my wife and my family members are very much disturbed,'' Justice Lakshmanan had said.

UNI