A committee of judges investigating two sitting judges of the Odisha High Court has stopped its proceedings after the name of a Supreme Court judge came up during investigations, DNA reported on Monday. Justice Indrajit Mohanty and Judge Sangam Kumar Sahoo have been accused of corruption.
The panel, headed by Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice SJ Vazifdar, has now written to Chief Justice of India JS Khehar for guidance.
The complainants in the case had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee, mentioning the involvement of the Supreme Court judge. These representations have also been sent to the committee of judges.
The panel, which comprises Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph and Justice S Abdul Nazeer, is conducting an inquiry against Mohanty and Sahoo for allegedly misusing their power and position.
In the letter, the judges’ panel has said that it was constituted only to probe High Court judges and that it has no authority to investigate a Supreme Court judge. Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Vazifdar has refused to speak to the media on the matter.
Charges against Odisha High Court judges
The complainants have alleged that Justice Indrajit Mohanty has promoted his business interests while being a judge. Judge Sangam Kumar Sahoo is alleged to have spent much more money than he is entitled to while renovating his official residence.
If the two judges are found guilty, the chief justice can recommend that the president impeach them.
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