Recusal
Topic: Judiciary: Independence, Structure, Judicial Review and Activism · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Recusal is when a judge steps away from hearing a case because of a conflict of interest. This means a personal link to the case, or a reasonable fear that the judge may not be neutral. It protects the rule that no one should judge a case where they may be biased. India has no written rules on recusal, so the judge concerned decides whether to step aside.
Example
In 2019, Justice U.U. Lalit stepped away from the Ayodhya bench.
Related concepts
- Judicial accountability
- Subhash Chandra Agarwal case
- Master of the roster
- Sealed cover jurisprudence
- Live-streaming of court proceedings