Justice Chelameswar to skip his own farewell function

Justice J Chelameswar, the second most senior Supreme Court judge, has reportedly refused an invite to his farewell by the top court's bar association.

Justice Chelameswar, who has been a judge of the Supreme Court since 10 October, 2011, is slated to retire on 22 June.

A first-of-its-kind press conference, Chelmeswar called a press conference at his home in Delhi and went public with his criticism of the way Supreme Court was being administered under Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

Three other judges, Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Madan Lokur, and Kurian Joseph, joined him in the unprecedented press conference.

The four judges mentioned in their press conference that the situation in the top court was "not in order" and many "less than desirable" things have taken place.

On 21 March, Justice Chelameswar wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra asking him to consider convening a full court to take up the issue of alleged executive interference in judiciary.

Separately, Justice Kurian Joseph also wrote a letter to the CJI, expressing concern over the delay by the government in clearing the names recommended by the collegium in February for elevation.

On 25 April, Justice Chelameswar also skipped a customary lunch meeting, a tradition in which all judges of the court meet for the afternoon meal every Wednesday.