DHC judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma to hear Delhi liquor case

Delhi High Court judge Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Monday rejected a plea by Arvind Kejriwal seeking her recusal from hearing matters related to the Delhi liquor policy case, delivering a strong statement on judicial independence and institutional integrity.

Dismissing the application, Justice Sharma said her oath to the Constitution obliges her to uphold justice without yielding to pressure. She emphasised that judicial integrity cannot be put on trial at the instance of litigants. While noting that recusal without adjudication would have been the easier course, she chose to decide the matter on merits to preserve institutional credibility.

The judge observed that the issue before her transcended a mere legal question, as it effectively placed both the judge and the institution under scrutiny. She reiterated that a judge’s impartiality is presumed unless rebutted by credible material, and cannot be challenged on the basis of apprehension or personal perception.

Justice Sharma further cautioned against attempts to undermine judicial processes, stating that repetition of allegations does not transform them into truth. She concluded that perceived doubts or “illusions” in a litigant’s mind cannot constitute valid grounds for recusal.