Supreme Court Justice NV Ramana on Thursday recused himself from hearing a plea challenging Centre’s decision to appoint M Nageshwar Rao as interim CBI director.
While recusing himself from hearing the matter, Justice Ramana said Rao is from his home state and he had attended the wedding ceremony of Rao’s daughter.
Justice Ramana referred the matter to the CJI to list it before an appropriate bench.
He is the third judge to have recused himself, after Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justice AK Sikri. Gogoi had recused himself saying he would be part of the panel to select the next CBI director.
Sikri, who was part of the committee that removed Alok Verma as CBI chief, had also recused himself.
The committee that ousted Verma was led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprised Justice Sikri and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge as members.
The NGO, Common Cause, in its petition filed through lawyer Prashant Bhushan, alleged that Rao’s appointment was not made on the basis of the recommendations of the committee.
Common Cause also argued that only the selection committee could appoint a director for the agency, reported The Indian Express.
(With PTI inputs)