In Brief
Police personnel from Manipur sought the recusal of two Supreme Court judges from hearing cases related to alleged extra-judicial executions by security forces, claiming media reports of oral observations made during continuing mandamus proceedings created apprehension of bias. The Court held that judicial observations during monitoring hearings cannot compromise the independence of investigations or trial courts. Since no substantive bias had been established and the investigating agency's integrity was undisputed, recusal was unwarranted. The Court emphasized that allowing recusal based on media reports would undermine judicial monitoring of important matters and inappropriately question the integrity of the judiciary and investigating agencies."
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