Justice Sharma’s son is ECI lawyer, raises propriety questions

Questions have been raised over judicial propriety after it emerged that Supreme Court Justice Satish Chandra Sharma's son is a standing counsel for the Election Commission of India (ECI) in the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Justice Sharma was part of a two-judge bench that on September 23 heard challenges to the 2023 law on appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners. He took the view the matter raised substantial constitutional questions and should be heard by a Constitution Bench, while Justice Dipankar Datta disagreed, leading to a reference to a larger bench.

On the same day, Justice Sharma's bench also heard a petition by Gautam Buddh Nagar District Magistrate Medha Roopam, daughter of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Roopam challenged an Allahabad High Court order that had quashed a detention under the National Security Act and directed Rs 5 lakh compensation to be recovered from her salary. Justice Sharma's bench granted interim relief staying the High Court's strictures and the salary recovery direction. LiveLaw and Times Now reported that the case was not in Justice Sharma's regular roster. No evidence of actual bias has been presented.