Recent recusals in a top tribunal, a High Court, and finally, the Supreme Court have sent confusing signals about whether judges must reveal why they choose to walk out of cases.
At the country’s top court, for instance, August 26 witnessed the inexplicable and sudden recusal of Justice M.M. Sundresh from hearing a bail plea filed by activist and advocate Surendra Pundalik Gadling in the Surjagarh iron ore mine arson case of 2016. The bail case had been with Justice Sundresh’s Bench since July 9, 2024. For well over a year, the case had seen a series of 13 adjournments till the day of the judge’s recusal, on August 26. The adjournments were largely due to the government seeking more time to file a counter-affidavit.
