The second most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Jasti Chelameswar, is set to retire on June 22. However, the Supreme Court bar Association (SCBA) has said that the judge has refused to be present at his own farewell function, citing personal reasons.

The SCBA statement has said that the judge had apparently turned down an invitation from the association.

The judge has been in the centre of a lot of controversy of late. He was among the four “rebel” judges who had held a press conference on January 12 at Justice Chelameswar’s house.

—India Legal Bureau