Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms v. Union of India and Another
Background
This order does not decide the main case. The Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms filed a writ petition seeking a Special Investigation Team probe into allegations in an FIR connected with a medical college matter. After a companion petition was referred to a five-judge Bench on an expedited basis, a preliminary question arose about who has the power to constitute Benches and allocate cases.
Decision Breakdown
This is not a final decision on the main case. Relying on State of Rajasthan v. Prakash Chand, a five-judge Bench held that the Chief Justice of India is the master of the roster and that no other Bench may allocate a case to itself. On the petition's own prayer, the Court directed that the matter be listed after two weeks before the appropriate Bench to be allocated by the Chief Justice of India.
Lesson Learnt
Only the Chief Justice of India decides which Bench of the Supreme Court hears which case. There is no ruling in this order on the petition's request for an investigation.