SC Judge TS Thakur recuses himself from Jayalalithaa's case
merisarkar news service New Delhi, November 03, 2011
Justice Thakur did not cite reasons
With one of the judges recusing, the Supreme Court on Thursday deferred till tomorrow, hearing on Tamilnadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's plea challenging the Bangalore trial court's order to appear before it again on November 8 in the disproportionate assets case.
A three judge bench headed by Dalveer Bhandari adjourned the hearing till Friday after Justice T S Thakur opted out of the matter without citing any reason.
The bench which also included Justice Dipak Mishra then adjourned the matter till tomorrow.
Challenging the trial judge's order, the AIADMK chief submitted in her petition that as per the apex court's direction she had already appeared before the court on October 20 and 21 and she cannot be summoned again.
Jayalalithaa pleaded that as per the apex court's order she was supposed to personally appear before the trial court only once and she cannot be forced to appear before it again.
The trial of the disproportionate assets case, allegedly involving accumulation of assets worth over Rs 66 crore by Jayalalithaa between 1991 and 1996 is being held in a Bangalore court.
The DA case proceedings were shifted out of Tamil Nadu by the apex court after she feared she might be denied a fair trial in Tamil Nadu due to state's erstwhile DMK government, which she had accused of implicating her in false cases.
The trial court had on October 21 directed her to appear again on November 8, saying that her questioning remained inconclusive.
During two days of hearing on October 20 and 21, she had answered 567 questions.
While answering the trial court's questions, the chief minister had said that the jewellery and other articles seized from her have been "over valued" and prayed for "revaluation."
According to the Chief Minister the jewellery, silverware and footwear have been over valued by Tamil Nadu's Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) and she did not own all the sarees confiscated.
Her appearance before the trial court followed a Supreme Court order of October 19, rejecting her plea to postpone the hearing against her by a few days.
The apex court had directed the Karnataka government to provide her adequate security when she had to appear before the trial court on October 20 and 21.
Police had made massive security arrangements for Jayalalithaa, who enjoys 'Z plus' category security status.
Jayalalithaa had said since there was a threat perception, hearing in the trial court should be deferred by at least a few days and also wanted the venue of the proceedings shifted closer to the airport.
But her plea was turned down by the apex court eventually compelling her to appear before the trial judge.
