The 27 judges involved were each given plots of 400 square metres at subsidised rates in Ahemdabad; their market value is believed to be worth crores of rupees.
In a case involving alleged irregularities in the allotment of prime real estate to 27 judges in Gujarat, the Supreme Court today put on hold a high court order. Earlier today, a judge exited the case - the third to do so.
Here are 10 developments in the story:
The court has put on hold the Gujarat High Court's order yesterday that a larger panel of judges will hear the case.
One of the judges on the new panel today withdrew from the case.
The Gujarat High Court took up the case on Monday, based on complaints by two judges who failed to get the plots, and issued notices to 27 judges, including those who have retired.
The allegation is that the state government in 2008 gave plots in prime areas to the judges, at a huge concession on the market rate.
The complaint by the two judges says correct procedure was not followed in the allotment of government plots to judges.
The judges involved were each given plots of 400 square metres at subsidised rates in Ahmedabad; their market value is believed to be worth crores of rupees but the complainants say, the judges paid just Rs. 25 lakhs.
Treating the complaint of the two judges as petitions, the High Court stepped in. Acting Chief Justice VM Sahai led the two-judge panel that started hearing the case.
On Tuesday, the two judges exited the case after a rare, heated argument in court.
The government's lawyer, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi, had said that the panel is not qualified to hear the case as both the judges, including the Acting Chief Justice, "desired plots themselves."
As the government lawyer repeatedly questioned whether he should hear the case, Justice VM Sahai referred it to another, larger bench.
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