A Delhi High Court judge today recused herself from hearing a suit seeking deletion of some references to the 1992 demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya from former President Pranab Mukherjee's 2016 book on the ground that they have hurt Hindu sentiments.
Without citing any reason, Justice Pratibha M Singh in an order said "subject to the orders of the acting Chief Justice, list this matter before another bench."
A group of lawyers and a social worker had moved the plea against the book 'Turbulent Years 1980-1996'.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the plaintiffs, told reporters that "at 3:15 PM, the judge had called him in her chamber and said that she is recusing herself from the matter without assigning any reason."
The matter, which was initially set to be heard on July 30, is now going to be placed before another bench on April 9.
The judge, who had heard the matter during the first half of the day and orally issued notice to Mukherjee, passed a written order few hours later recusing herself.
The court in September last year had called for the trial court records of the suit after the plaintiffs moved an appeal against a lower court order of November 30, 2016 rejecting their plea to delete certain portions of the book of the then President.
The plaintiffs' advocates had claimed before the trial court that a civil suit can be filed against the President during his tenure in respect of any act done by him in his "personal capacity".
The President's counsel had opposed the plea before the trial court, asserting that it was not maintainable.
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