CJI Bobde defends the controversial committee formed by the SC

CJI Bobde defends the controversial committee formed by the SC

The Chief Justice of India, Sharad A. Bobde, has recently defended the committee made by the Supreme Court for the Farm Bills. The four members of the committee were known to be pro-market agricultural economists: Ashok Gulati and Pramod Kumar Joshi, along with Anil Ghanwat and Bhupinder Singh Mann. Mr. Mann recused himself from the committee due to fear amongst the farmer unions and the public. A plea was put forward in the Supreme Court, saying that since all the committee members are pro-government, the issues between the farmers and the government would not be resolved. The committee would go against natural justice. During this hearing, the court said that it may appoint Adv. Siddharth Luthra as amicus curiae in the case against physical hearing in the Delhi HC. Mr. Luthra then stated in front of the court that he was in favour of virtual hearing instead of physical ones. The CJI stated that just because the committee members expressed their views does not disqualify them from the committee. Since the committee members are not judges, their views can change when the grievances are heard in the committee sessions.