Justice Rituraj Awasthi
New Delhi: Welcoming the reconstitution of the Law Commission of India, the All India Bar Association (AIBA) today slammed lawyer—turned-politician Asaduddin Owaisi, who is a Member of Parliament, for criticising the choice of Justice Rituraj Awasthi as its Chairman.
Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and four-time Member of Parliament (MP) from Hyderabad, criticised the appointment of Justice Awasthi for the prestigious responsibility, citing the jurist’s judgment in the Hijab case while heading a bench as Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court. The AIBA though accused Owaisi of misrepresenting facts and pointed out that the judgment of the bench headed by Justice Awasthi was later upheld by the Supreme Court in letter and spirit.
“It is unfair and unethical to judge a judge instead of judging his judgments,” Dr Adish C. Aggarwala, Senior Advocate and Chairman of AIBA, stated, and said that Owaisi’s criticism of Justice Awasthi’s appointment “deserves to be condemned in the strongest possible terms”.
Asking Owaisi to demonstrate his faith in the judiciary, said Dr Aggarwala who has also been Vice Chairman of the Bar Council of India and Supreme Court Bar Association, said the AIBA pledges its “unflinching” support to the Law Commission of India and its new Chairman Justice Awasthi and undertakes to stand by the institution “against all disruptive and destabilising forces”.
– global bihari bureau
