Hazardous grille work across Mohali derails road safetyWith little to no barricading, caution signage or reflective warnings in place at many points, commuters said navigating these stretches, especially after dark, has become risky Published on: Apr 21, 2026 7:44 AM IST By Sheetal
The Government of India has withdrawn its plan to pre-install the Aadhaar app on smartphones. This decision has been confirmed by the UIDAI, making it clear that users will now have to download the app themselves. This proposal first came up for discussion earlier this year; however
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma rejected pleas for her recusal from the Delhi liquor-policy case. She stated litigants cannot judge judges without material. Kejriwal and others sought her withdrawal citing previous rulings and perceived bias. The judge asserted her impartiality and commitment to
Silver offerings at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine are not pure silver. Assayers found offerings contained only 5-6% silver, with the rest being toxic cadmium and iron. This discovery has raised alarm bells. The contaminated metal is worth significantly less than expected
Apple iPhone 18 Pro Max tipped in new Dark Cherry shade: Specs, price leaksiPhone 18 Pro Max leaks hint at a bold new look, refined design tweaks, and major performance upgrades, Apple’s next flagship is already making headlines. Updated on: Apr 20
Delhi HC judge Swarana K Sharma refuses to recuse
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma rejected pleas for her recusal from the Delhi liquor-policy case. She stated litigants cannot judge judges without material. Kejriwal and others sought her withdrawal citing previous rulings and perceived bias. The judge asserted her impartiality and commitment to justice. She will proceed to hear the CBI's petition.
New Delhi, Delhi High Court judge Swarana Kanta Sharma on Monday refused to recuse herself from hearing the liquor-policy case as she rejected the pleas of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal and others for her withdrawal.
In the pronouncement that lasted for more than an hour, Justice Sharma said a litigant cannot be allowed to judge a judge without any material and judges cannot recuse themselves to satisfy a litigant's unfounded apprehension of bias.
She added that a political leader cannot be allowed to damage an institution without any basis, as a personal attack on a judge is an attack on the judiciary itself, and "a politician cannot be permitted to cross the boundary and sit in judgment over the competence of a judge".
Justice Sharma concluded that the narrative in the pleas for her recusal was based on conjectures and "perceived inclinations", and cautioned that the case could open the doors for "powerful litigants to attack judges" and their families for "forum shopping".
"This court will stand up for itself and the institution.... I will not recuse," the judge said, adding that she would decide the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) petition against the discharge of the accused in the excise-policy case without being affected by the recusal pleas.
"The application seeking recusal are, therefore, rejected and in this rejection, this court affirms its fidelity to the Constitution on behalf of myself and every judge who stands by it. Justice lies not in shielding under pressure, but in doing justice of objectively," she said.
During the day, Justice Sharma, however, recused herself from hearing a 2025 bail plea of former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Balyan in a Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) case pending since 2025.
Without specifying any reason, she directed that the matter be placed before another judge on April 23.
Kejriwal had raised several objections against Justice Sharma hearing the CBI's plea against his discharge in the liquor-policy case, including that she had earlier denied him relief on his petition challenging his arrest and refused to grant relief on the bail pleas of other accused, including Manish Sisodia and K Kavitha.
In her judgment, Justice Sharma countered every contention raised by Kejriwal and others, stating that the recusal applications did not come with any evidence but "aspersions, insinuations and doubts" on her integrity and impartiality, despite a judicial career of 34 years.
Responding to the objection that the court passed an ex-parte interim order on the CBI's petition on the very first day, Justice Sharma said such orders were even passed in favour of AAP leaders in other cases.
The judge also junked Kejriwal's apprehension of bias on the basis of her attendance at events of the Akhil Bharatiya Adhivakta Parishad -- an RSS-affiliated confederation of lawyers -- observing that these are professional functions organised by lawyers that are attended by several judges and not political events.
Justice Sharma asserted that judges cannot be placed in an ivory tower and expected to lead a life in seclusion, and ruled that accepting an invitation to deliver a lecture or interact with younger members of the bar cannot be used to insinuate political association.
She also cautioned against allowing the opening of the floodgates for litigants who want to sow seeds of "distrust, suspicion and mistrust" in this manner.
Justice Sharma also strongly objected to the allegation of her having a conflict of interest in hearing the case as her children are on the central government's panel and receive cases through the solicitor general who represented the CBI, saying there is a clear distinction between a conflict of interest and an "attempt" to create an impression of conflict of interest.
She said none of her children has any "proximity" or "nexus" to the excise-policy case and if the plea of Kejriwal and others is accepted, the children of judges can never enter the legal profession, which would also take away their fundamental rights.
Noting the CBI's contention that the RTI information being relied upon by Kejriwal in support of his claim is "misconceived", Justice Sharma said a false imputation, even if repeated 1,000 times in a court or on social media, does not become the truth.
"A litigant cannot dictate how the children or family members of a judge are to live their lives. Whether they must rise through their own struggles and hard work or whether they should be prevented from doing so. In the absence of any proof beyond doubt that the office of the judge has been misused for the benefit of her children or family, even a whisper of such allegation cannot be permitted," the judge said.
She said only a higher court can decide if a judicial decision is in accordance with the law and a judge cannot recuse for the sake of a litigant's "general unease".
"The robe that this court wears will not be allowed to be weighed down by insinuations. The arguments and pleadings before this court have fallen short of the standard required under the law and jurisprudence of recusal. Allegations and insinuations, though persistent and loud, can never take place of the proof required in law for seeking recusal," the court ruled.
Besides Kejriwal, applications for the judge's recusal were also filed by AAP leaders Sisodia and Durgesh Pathak.
Other respondents, including Vijay Nair and Arun Ramchandra Pillai, had also sought her recusal.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared in the court for the CBI and opposed the plea. He had earlier urged Justice Sharma to initiate contempt action against Kejriwal and the others for seeking her recusal.
On February 27, the trial court discharged Kejriwal, Sisodia and others in the Delhi liquor-policy case, saying the CBI's case was wholly unable to survive judicial scrutiny and stood discredited in its entirety. PTI
Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
Source: EconomicTimes
Related Posts: Setback for Arvind Kejriwal after Delhi HC judge refuses to recuse 3 judges recuse from hearing HDFC CEO’s petition for quashing FIR Delhi HC refuses to stay demolition of apartments in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar Mark Waugh refuses to believe DRS call that saved Rohit Sharma Delhi High Court refuses to stay release of movie Udaipur Files Delhi HC refuses immediate take down of defamatory material against J&K Dy CM Delhi HC refuses plea to remove graves of Afzal Guru Delhi court rejects Rabri Devi's plea to transfer cases from judge alleging bias Irfan Pathan Explains How Rohit Sharma And Virat Sharma Have Rekindled ODIS Supreme Court refuses to entertain petition to rehabilitate Nellie massacre survivors
Akshay Kumar says Dhurandhar is a very well-knit, beautifully made film: ‘Kabhi mauka milega aise cinema mein…’Akshay Kumar showered praise on Aditya Dhar's Dhurandhar and shared that the film really digs deep into answering so many questions about the country. Apr 21, 2026
Just now
Meta has officially started testing an optional premium subscription tier called WhatsApp Plus, which offers users the option of adding custom app icons, exclusive ringtones, and other customisations. As per a report by WABetaInfo, the WhatsApp subscription plan is currently rolling out to a
Just now
Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients. Misleading food ads are fuelling a public health crisis in India. Help Scroll expose the systemic failure. Support our investigation.Sugar-free products with sugar. ‘Real’ juices with artificial ingredients
Just now
The Trump administration has begun processing refunds for billions of dollars in tariffs that the US Supreme Court struck down in February. In what is to be the biggest repayment programme in history, companies can apply online for money they were charged under the so-called "Liberation Day"
Just now
Mumbai’s local train network is often called the lifeline of the city, carrying millions of commuters every day across the Central Railway, Western Railway, and Harbour lines. Despite the expansion of the metro network, overcrowding in local trains continues to remain a major concern for daily
Just now
Mumbai Indians achieved a commanding 99-run win against Gujarat Titans. Tilak Varma scored his first IPL century, setting a strong total. Mumbai's bowlers then dismantled Gujarat's batting lineup. Gujarat faced early wickets and struggled to build partnerships
Just now
Iraq's main Shi'ite political blocs have nominated Bassem al-Badry for prime minister. However, some officials dispute this selection, stating that discussions are ongoing. Another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. This follows the withdrawal of Nouri al-Maliki
Just now
People are talking about John Ternus’ LinkedIn profile as he prepares to take over from Tim Cook as Apple CEOJohn Ternus is set to become Apple's CEO, and Tim Cook will take up the role of Apple Executive Chairman. Published on: Apr 21, 2026 7:53 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link The
Just now
Sunrisers Hyderabad host Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Tuesday, 21 April, at 7:30 PM IST in Match 31 of IPL 2026. Hyderabad and Delhi are sitting close in the points table. The Sunrisers have won 3 and lost 3 in their 6 matches. With 6 points
Just now
Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) has further strengthened its compact SUV portfolio with the introduction of the new Venue Knight Edition, bringing in a bolder and more aggressive styling package along with feature enhancements. This special edition continues to build on the strong popularity of
Just now
Carlos Alcaraz may skip French Open rather than rush injury comebackFrench Open champion Carlos Alcaraz said he would rather miss defending his Roland Garros title than rush treatment. Updated on: Apr 21, 2026 7:39 AM IST AFP Share via Copy link French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz insisted on
Just now
On a sticky morning in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata, Koustav Bagchi moves from door to door in a crisp white and red traditional attire, a fish in hand. Drums thud behind him as supporters chant his name. A lawyer-turned-politician and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s candidate from
Just now
Setback for Kejriwal after Delhi HC judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma refuses to recuse in excise policy caseIn a judgment delivered over more than an hour, justice Sharma observed that a mere apprehension of not receiving relief cannot justify recusal. Published on: Apr 21
Just now
'Who hasn't admired Tom Brady?' 2026 draft darling Fernando Mendoza eyes GOAT mentorshipMendoza sees Tom Brady as a mentor, attributing his discipline to Brady's influence, ahead of the upcoming NFL draft. Published on: Apr 21, 2026 5:28 AM IST By HT Global Sports Desk Share via Copy link Fernando
Just now
US musician D4vd has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder in the death of a teenage girl who vanished last year. The star, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of murdering 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose decomposing remains were found in September in a
Just now
From anguish on Saturday evening to some sort of relief on Monday. It has been a trying season for Tottenham fans but after seeing their side concede a late equaliser at home to Brighton, they can at least taken some comfort from West Ham's failure to take full advantage at Crystal Palace
Just now
Iran signals ‘new cards’ on battlefield ahead of peace talks with US, says ‘no negotiations under shadow of threats’US Vice President JD Vance has not departed for Pakistan for talks with Iran, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the matter. Updated on: Apr 21
Just now
Odisha Chief Electoral Officer RS Gopalan on Monday directed electoral registration officers to verify the voter details “properly” before deleting names from the electoral rolls, PTI reported. This came amid allegations of “wrongful deletion” of around 9
Just now
Mumbai, Apr 20 (PTI) Noting that Artificial Intelligence is reshaping journalism, Principal Secretary (Information and Publicity), Maharashtra, Brijesh Singh said on Monday that women scribes should treat this technological shift as an opportunity to become more tech-savvy and drive positive change
Just now
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.Samsung Galaxy A57 review: A well-rounded premium mid-ranger with AI smartsThe Samsung Galaxy A57 is a well rounded premium mid-ranger that strives to be more. Published on: Apr 20
Just now
Apple has named John Ternus as its new chief executive to replace Tim Cook who is stepping down after 15 years of leading the technology giant. Ternus, currently the head of hardware engineering who has been at Apple for 25 years, will take over on 1 September and Cook will become executive
Just now
Love Horoscope Today for April 21, 2026: This is a good time to share your feelings without overthinkingLove Horoscope Today: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: Apr 21, 2026 7:30 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries Horoscope Today Love Energy:
Just now
Large swathes of North and Central India are likely to continue experiencing heat wave conditions in the coming few days, while Northeast India is forecast to receive heavy to very heavy rains accompanied by thunderstorm activities and gusty winds, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD)
Just now
Indian Premier League teams are asking the government to reclassify match tickets. They want IPL games treated as sports, not entertainment. This could cut the goods and services tax on tickets significantly. The current 40% tax is seen as too high for sporting events
Just now
As West Bengal gears up for elections, authorities have identified more than 8,000 polling booths deemed sensitive. In a proactive approach to maintain order, police have arrested 135 individuals. To bolster security, an innovative AI system is overseeing the voting process
Just now
Assam HS Result 2026: Where, how to check AHSEC 12th results when announcedAssam HS Result 2026 will be announced on the official websites. Know where, how to check AHSEC 12th results when announced. Updated on: Apr 20, 2026 10:50 AM IST By HT Education Desk | Edited by Papri Chanda Share via Copy
Just now
‘I cried due to a manchild’: Employee praises manager for taking action against a toxic teammateIn a Reddit post, an employee labelled their manager as “one of the best human beings” they have ever met. Published on: Apr 21, 2026 7:03 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link A Reddit
Just now
