10 sittings, six crucial verdicts for CJI Gogoi before retirement

Here is a look at the six high profile cases that CJI Ranjan Gogoi needs to deliver a verdict right before his retirement on November 17.

Hyderabad: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi is all set to retire on November 17 with only 10 working days left to deliver a few high profile case judgements before his retiring date.

The judgements vary from Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, Sabarimala temple case, Rafale fighter aircraft deal, the application of RTI to the CJI's office and contempt plea against Rahul Gandhi for "Chowkidar chor hain" remark to the Validity of Finance Act 2017.

Also, as Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi is expected to demit the office on November 17. He has recommended Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde's name as his successor.

1. The Ayodhya-Babri Masjid title dispute case

The 5-judge bench presided by CJI Gogoi had reserved judgment on October 16th, after 40 days of the hearing.

Past Event: The verdict will decide if it was correct in dividing the disputed land among Ram Lalla, Nirmohi Akhara and the Sunni Waqf Board in September 2010 verdict by the Allahabad High Court.

2. Rafale review verdict

On May 10th, the bench headed by CJI Gogoi had reserved orders on the review petitions filed against the December 14th verdict which had declined to order a probe into the corruption allegations in the Rafale deal.

Past Event: The review petition alleged that the government misled the court into delivering the December 14, 2018 judgment.

3. Contempt plea against Rahul Gandhi

CJI Gogoi on May 10 again reserved orders in a contempt petition filed by BJP leader Meenakshi Lekhi against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for attributing 'chowkidar chor hain' remark to the apex court in connection with its April 10th verdict.

Past Event: Gandhi had made the remark to the media in reaction to a Supreme Court verdict on April 10 Rafale review.

4. Sabarimala review verdict

The Constitution Bench headed by CJI Gogoi along with Justices Khanwilkar, Nariman, Chandrachud and Indu Malhotra had reserved orders on review petitions in Sabarimala case on February 6.

Past Event: They had earlier on the September 28, 2018 judgement declared rights of all women to enter Sabarimala's inner sanctum in Kerala.

5. Application of the Right to Information Act to the CJI's office

The Constitution bench on April 4 had reserved its judgement on the issue whether the office of the CJI will come under the Right to Information Act.

Past Event: The Supreme Court Secretary General filed a plea against the January 2010 judgement of the Delhi High Court that declared the CJI's office under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005.

6. The validity of Finance Act 2017

On April 10, the SC reserved verdict in petitions challenging the validity of the Finance Act, 2017 on the ground that it was passed by the Parliament as a Money Bill.

The Finance Act, 2017 affected the powers strata of various judicial tribunals such as the National Green Tribunal, etc.

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