RTI impact - Rent case transferred to another HC judge
29 Nov, 2012The disclosure made under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that the assets of a Delhi high court judge, who was hearing a petition challenging the Delhi Rent Control Act (DRCA), 1958, include an old tenancy premises.
Advocate Shobha Aggarwal, president, Committee for Repeal of Delhi Rent Control Act, urged Justice Endlaw to recuse from hearing the case. In the recusal application, she contended that the premises, earlier occupied by the judge's father, falls under rent control. The request for recusal argued that if Delhi Rent Control Act, 1958 would be held unconstitutional, tenants like justice Endlaw would have to vacate the premises. This poses a natural apprehension for the petitioners that because of the conflict of interest involved, justice may elude them."
On hearing the appeal, a bench of chief justice D Murugesan and justice Rajiv Sahai, transferred the petitions filed by women landlords in the capital to another bench.