Coal case: SC urges HC to give names of five officers to replace Special Judge

The Supreme Court on Monday requested the Delhi High Court Chief Justice to give the names of five judicial officers of “high calibre and absolute integrity” to replace Special Judge Bharat Parashar as presiding officer in the coal block allocation scam trial.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde sought the names on the basis of a letter received from the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court seeking permission of the top court to nominate/post another suitable officer as Special Judge in the place of Judge Parashar. The apex court order, referring to the High Court official’s letter, recorded that Judge Parashar “needs to be replaced, as he has now completed more than six years in the same post after having been posted as Special Judge in the above mentioned court since August 19, 2014.”