Twenty important judgments delivered by Justice DY Chandrachud as a judge of the Supreme Court

17. Independent investigation into the death of Judge Loya

Case title: Tehseen Poonawalla & Ors v Union of India & Another

In April 2018, the Supreme Court dismissed petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of BH Loya, the judge who heard the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case in which current Union Minister Amit Shah was accused.

A three-judge bench comprising then Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud ruled that there was no reason to question the consistent testimonies of four judicial officers on the chain of events that led to Loya’s death.

Judge Chandrachud stated that documentary evidence confirmed that Judge Loya’s death was due to natural causes.

The judgment also recorded the conduct of the applicants and interveners in this case “lacks bona fides and exposes abuse of process” while the petition is dismissed and all other transferred cases and pending applications are declared disposed of.

The Court also criticized the petitioners for defaming the Administrative Committee of the Bombay High Court and the judges of the Supreme Court.

It had noted that even Supreme Court judges were not spared, citing Prashant Bhushan’s request to remove Justices Khanwilkar and Chandrachud from the case.