Supreme Court rejects plea against ex-judge and Press Council of India Chief C K Prasad

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today dismissed a PIL seeking registration of an FIR against former apex court judge and Press Council of India Chairman Justice C K Prasad for allegedly passing some inappropriate orders in a civil appeal during his tenure as a judge, saying if such pleas are taken up it will "open dangerous doors".

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C Pant rejected the plea filed by lawyer Prashant Bhushan against the PCI Chairman.

"In our considered opinion, the Supreme Court judgement in the Lalita Kumari case (which mandates registration of FIR in certain cases) is not applicable in the present facts of the present case," the bench said.

It further said that if it entertains such petitions then "it will open dangerous doors".

"The orders, may be absurd, of the high courts and Supreme Court judges, cannot be allowed to be challenged in this manner," the bench said.

The observation came when senior advocate Shanti Bhushan, appearing for his lawyer son, Prashant, said, "it's an open and shut case and FIR should be registered. Just because he happens to be a Supreme Court judge, it should not be denied."

The PIL alleged that Justice Prasad, during his tenure as Supreme Court judge, passed an order directing listing of a civil appeal before him which was previously pending before another bench.