Rs 10 L fine on plea against succession privilege

The Supreme Court slapped a fine of Rs 10 lakh each on two persons for filing a “motivated” petition challenging the practice of the incumbent Chief Justice of India (CJI) recommending the name of his successor to the President.

A bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud said the imposition of the fine on Swami Om and Mukesh Jain was needed to people from filing such pleas.

Justice Dipak Misra was recently recommended for appointment as the CJI. He is set to take charge on August 28.

The bench said it was of the view that the petition is purely a publicity stunt which needs to be “deprecated in an unequivocal manner”.

The petitioners, who did not say anything in their plea against the CJI-designate, said the process of recommending the name of the successor by the incumbent CJI is against the spirit of Constitution.

The apex court asked the petitioners to pay the fine within a month. The amount will be sent to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.