NEW DELHI: Six Manipur police commandos facing prosecution in alleged extra-judicial killing cases moved the Supreme Court complaining that Justice Madan B Lokur’s remark terming them and armed forces personnel “murderers” had vitiated the impending trial in these cases. The petitioners quoted Justice Lokur’s remarks during hearing of the case in which the CBI director was summoned on July 31.

They claimed the judge had told the CBI director, “According to you, there are 14 murderers in these cases and they are loafing around Manipur freely. You have not arrested any of them. What happens to society? If somebody commits rape, what is there to recover? So you (CBI) will allow him to roam free?”

Terming the remarks unbecoming of an SC judge, the petitioners said, “Calling the members of armed forces and police force ‘murderers’ and comparing them with rapists has dealt a serious blow to the morale of the forces and their families, little realising that (responsibility to maintain) sovereignty and security of the nation is placed on the shoulders of these members of the forces, who very often lay down their lives for the safety and security of the motherland and its citizenry.

“With hostile neighbours around, the country can ill-afford to have a demoralised, confused and low morale force that may imperil the very existence of the nation, its Constitution, the rule of law and fair and impartial administration of criminal justice system of the country.”

Recalling SC judgments, which had ruled that free and fair trial was part of an accused person’s right to life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, the petitioners said they were accused of ‘fake encounters’ by vested interest groups but the least the SC could have done was to ensure a fair trial. They said the issue should be referred to a five-judge bench and Justice Lokur should not hear the petitions alleging extra-judicial killings in Manipur.

