HC dismisses Arunachal Speaker's petition on change of bench

Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition by Arunachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Nabam Rebia challenging an order issued by the court's Joint Registrar whereby an earlier petition filed by him pending before the regular bench was transferred to another.

Today's writ petition was filed alleging that the transfer of Rebia's earlier petition on December 18 from the regular bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy to another bench of Justice B K Sharma on the ground of engagement of a particular senior counsel by the private respondents in W P (C) No.

7745/2015 was an act of bench hunting by the opposite parties to avoid a particular court.

Senior advocate Ram Jethmalini appeared for petitioner Rebia.

Justice A K Goswami after hearing the petition interalia held that constitution and listing of a case was the prerogative of the Chief Justice of the High Court, and accordingly dismissed it.

Gauhati High Court Standing Counsel Sanjoy Medhi appeared for the high court.