Bela Trivedi Explained

Bela Madhurya Trivedi
Office:Judge of the Supreme Court of India
Termstart:31 August 2021
Appointer:Ram Nath Kovind
Nominator:N. V. Ramana
Office1:Judge of the Gujarat High Court
Nominator1:T. S. Thakur
Appointer1:Pranab Mukherjee
Termstart1:9 February 2016
Termend1:30 August 2021
Office2:Judge of the Rajasthan High Court
Appointer2:Pratibha Patil
Nominator2:S. H. Kapadia
Termstart2:27 June 2011
Termend2:8 February 2016
Office3:Judge of the Gujarat High Court
Appointer3:Pratibha Patil
Termstart3:17 February 2011
Termend3:26 June 2011
Birth Date:1960 6, df=yes
Birth Place:Patan, Gujarat
Nominator3:S. H. Kapadia
Alma Mater:M. S. University

Bela Madhurya Trivedi (born on 10 June 1960)[1] is a judge of the Supreme Court of India. Before being appointed a judge, She served as the law secretary to Modi Government in Gujarat, when Narendra Modi was the then chief minister.[2] after that she had been a judge of the Gujarat High Court from 2016 to 2021.[3] She formerly served as the additional judge of the Gujarat High Court from 17 February 2011 to 27 June 2011 and later served as the additional judge of the Rajasthan High Court.[4] [5] [6] On 7 December 2023, self-assessment report published by article-14.com, alleged that there have been irregularities in allocating politically sensitive cases to the bench led by Justice Bela Trivedi.[7] [8]

Controversies

Judgement on Reservation

She suggested that all reservations given to untouchables, tribals and other backward classes should come to an end in the case of Janhit Abhiyan v. Union of India.[9]

Handling opposition Parties Sensitive Cases

Over the past few months, several cases have been reassigned to benches that include Justice Trivedi or others, contrary to regulations. According to the ‘Supreme Court Handbook on Practice and Procedure and Office Procedure’, cases should remain with the senior judge who first received them or a judge who is overseeing a related case."[10]

1. Umar Khalid’s bail plea2. Petitions challenging provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)19673. A petition connected with the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe in a disproportionate assets case against deputy chief minister of Karnataka D K Shivakumar4. Supreme Court Denies Bail To AAP Leader Satyendar Jain [11]

Senior Advocates on 'Arbitrary' Allocation

The issue of reassignment of cases to different bench of the Supreme Court has been flagged by a number of senior lawyers before the CJI. Prashant Bhushan Writes to SC Registrar on 'Arbitrary' Allocation of Cases to Justice Bela M. Trivedi[12] "This case was part heard before Justice AS Bopanna, now the case is listed before Justice Bela Trivedi", Singhvi told CJI asking him to look at the case papers again.[13]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The High Court Judges General Administration Department (Personnel Division). gad.gujarat.gov.in. en. 2018-09-04. 4 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180904064615/https://gad.gujarat.gov.in/Personnel/high-court-judges.htm. dead.
  2. Web site: Contrary To SC's Rules Of Assignment, At Least 8 Politically Sensitive Cases Moved To One Judge In 4 Months. article-14.com.
  3. News: Justice Belaben Trivedi takes oath of office in Gujarat HC. 2016-02-09. DeshGujarat. 2018-09-04. en-US.
  4. News: Gujarat HC has had only 6 women judges in 50 years. 2012-03-09. dna. 2018-09-04. en-US.
  5. Web site: High Court of Gujarat. gujarathighcourt.nic.in. en. 2018-09-17.
  6. Web site: General Council GNLU. www.gnlu.ac.in. 2018-09-04.
  7. Web site: Contrary To SC's Rules Of Assignment, At Least 8 Politically Sensitive Cases Moved To One Judge In 4 Months. article-14.com.
  8. Web site: Prashant Bhushan Writes To SC Registry Alleging Irregularities In Listing Of UAPA Pleas Before Justice Bela Trivedi. live law. 8 December 2023 .
  9. Web site: 2022-11-22 . A Letter to Justice Bela Trivedi from an 'Untouchable' Ex-colleague . 2024-04-04 . The India Forum . en.
  10. Web site: 2023-12-07 . SC shifts seven cases to bench of former law secretary to Narendra Modi . 2024-04-04 . National Herald . en.
  11. Web site: Das . Awstika . 2024-03-18 . BREAKING Supreme Court Denies Bail To AAP Leader Satyendar Jain In Money Laundering Case . 2024-04-04 . www.livelaw.in . en.
  12. Web site: Prashant Bhushan Writes to SC Registrar on 'Arbitrary' Allocation of Cases to Justice Bela M. Trivedi .
  13. Web site: "I will not take a call", CJI on Justice Bela Trivedi hearing Satyendra Jain's bail plea . 2024-04-04 . LawBeat . en.