Judge Joseph SC elevation row: Ex-CJI Lodha calls present phase disastrous

Chief Justice of India is master of roster, but can he use it arbitrarily, asks ex-CJI R M Lodha on SC crisis

Former Chief Justice of India Justice R M Lodha on Tuesday termed as "disastrous" the prevailing situation in the apex judiciary and said though the CJI is the master of roster, the allocation of cases has to be "fair and in the interest of the institution." Asserting that the "independence of judiciary is non-negotiable", Justice Lodha said it was for the CJI to take the institution forward by showing "statesmanship qualities" and taking his colleagues together.

"The phase we are seeing at the Supreme Court today is, to say the least, disastrous. It is high time that collegiality is restored.