Treating Loya's case as a public cause, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that it was looking into the issue seeking probe into the death of former sessions court judge H.B. Loya as a “public cause” and will not hesitate to order an investigation if it finds some suspicion in his death.

A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, made this observation when senior counsel Dushyant Dave, appearing for Bombay Lawyers Association made a fervent plea for a probe in public interest.  

Senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Maharashtra said, “Apart from politics, there is nothing amiss in the death of Loya and no further probe is necessary.” While Justice Chandrachud observed, “Any such untoward incident of death has to be seriously looked into by this court.” Justice Chandrachud added, “We are looking into every aspect of the documents and material in minute detail. On verification if our conscience is aroused to order an enquiry, we will not hesitate to do so. We treat it as a public cause and we are not concerned with what is happening outside this court. We take it with the highest amount of seriousness and we are dutybound to do it.”

The CJI endorsed Justice Chandrachud’s observations and said, “We are not concerned with petitioners’ locus standi or bona fides in filing the petition.”  

Earlier Mr Dave faulted the court for not issuing notice in these petitions.