Third Supreme Court judge recuses himself from hearing lawyer Surendra Gadling's bail plea

The hearing of lawyer Surendra Gadling's bail plea has been delayed once again after a third Supreme Court judge recused himself from the case.

The latest recusal adds another procedural hurdle in the long-pending matter, requiring the bail petition to be placed before a different Bench for further consideration.

Third recusal in the case

The judge declined to hear the matter without specifying detailed reasons in open court, in line with the judiciary's established practice that allows judges to recuse themselves when they consider it appropriate.

With this being the third recusal in the case, Gadling's bail plea will now need to be reassigned by the Chief Justice of India to another Bench.

Bail plea remains pending

Surendra Gadling, a Nagpur-based lawyer, is among the accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

He has sought bail before the Supreme Court after challenging earlier court orders that denied him relief.

The petition raises issues relating to prolonged incarceration and the merits of his continued detention. The NIA has opposed the plea, maintaining that the allegations against the accused are serious and should be examined during trial.

Fresh listing expected

Following the latest recusal, the Registry is expected to place the matter before the Chief Justice for assignment to another Bench.

No date has been fixed for the next hearing, and it remains unclear when the bail plea will be taken up again.

Case continues to draw attention

The Bhima Koregaon case has remained under judicial scrutiny for several years, with multiple accused seeking bail before various courts.

The latest recusal is likely to further delay a decision on Gadling's plea, while legal proceedings in the broader case continue.