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New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) After the Rouse Avenue court on Monday framed charges against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members in the IRCTC hotel scam case, Congress leader Udit Raj alleged that the judiciary has been ‘managed’ and claimed that the hearing date was deliberately fixed before the Bihar Assembly elections.
The alleged scam pertains to the period between 2004 and 2009 when Lalu Prasad was the Union Railway Minister. This involves alleged irregularities in awarding the contract for maintenance of two IRCTC hotels to a private firm without following proper procedures.
Reacting to the court’s move, Udit Raj told IANS, “Today’s date was fixed deliberately. Everyone knows what the judiciary is. Everything is managed. This happened so that they (RJD) cannot contest elections, they can be harassed, demoralized and oppressed. I would urge the people of Bihar to take revenge for this through votes.”
He also referred to the appointment of former BJP spokesperson Aarti Sathe as a judge of the Bombay High Court in August this year and questioned the credibility of such judicial appointments.
“BJP’s Mumbai spokesperson made a High Court judge. Will she judge? Her name is Aarti. There are many such examples. There is no exam or interview to become a judge. Is there any exam or interview to become a High Court or Supreme Court judge? How are the cases fought by them evaluated?” he asked.
The Congress leader further alleged that “nepotism” is rampant in the judiciary, claiming that judges and the Center “work in collusion” to influence judicial selections.
“The government takes some of its quota, and some comes from the judges’ quota. Judges are appointed by sharing the quota this way… Leaders are elected by the public, but who is choosing the judges?” He cited several examples, including that of former Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, whose father YV Chandrachud also served as CJI.
–IANS
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