NEW DELHI, Sept 26 - The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition challenging appointment of Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI), holding that it was devoid of merit.
A Bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud ruled that they were of the view that it is not the stage to interfere with the appointment.
The petition against Justice Gogoi�s appointment as the next CJI was filed by advocates RP Luthra and Satyaveer Sharma.
In their plea, the petitioners said they were seeking adjudication of the question of law relying on the contents of the press conference of January 12 called by four senior judges of the apex court � Justices Chelameswar (since retired), Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph.
The petitioners said they were also relying on an undated letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India and circulated by the four Supreme Court judges.
�This act of the four senior-most judges of the court was not less than sabotage to the judicial system of the country. They tried to arouse public furore in the country in the name of certain internal differences in this court,� the plea had alleged.
The plea claimed that �the petitioners are aggrieved of the actions and omissions on the part of the Central government and Chief Justice of India, which has resulted into appointment of Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the Chief Justice of India instead of reprimanding him for his illegal and anti-institutional act.�
The petition had claimed that the act of the Government of India and Chief Justice �is illegal and unconstitutional and also against the canons of law because the appointment on the highest post of judiciary has been awarded to a person who is guilty of committing judicial impropriety and judicial misconduct.�
The petitioners had sought quashing of the order of appointment of Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the Chief Justice of India with effect from October 3.
