C. RAVICHANDRAN IYER vs JUSTICE A.M. BHATTACHARJEE

The Supreme Court held that the actions of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa, Bombay Bar Association, and Advocates’ Association of Western India in coercing Justice A.M. Bhattacharjee to resign were unconstitutional and undermined judicial independence. The Court emphasized that the procedure for resignation and removal of judges is strictly governed by Articles 124 and 217 of the Constitution and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. The Court rejected the petitioner's request for interim directions against the resignation and did not find it necessary to refer the matter to a larger bench, affirming the importance of judicial independence.