In response to the central government's purported disappointment regarding his judgment in a Delhi riots case, Justice S Muralidhar expressed his bewilderment, emphasizing that any other judge would have issued a similar ruling.
Justice S Muralidhar, former Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, articulated his perplexity over the central government's disapproval of his decision in the Delhi riots case. This decision entailed directing the Delhi Police to ensure the safety and medical care of riot victims.
Speaking at a public event in Bengaluru, Justice Muralidhar questioned why his verdict had unsettled the central government, asserting that any of his judicial peers would have taken a comparable stance. He remarked, "I don’t know what is it that upset... Any other judge should have done the same thing. Every other colleague of mine in the Delhi High Court would have reacted the same way. I don't think anybody else would have acted differently. So, what is that upset the government? I am as clueless as you are if at all they were upset," as reported by Live Law.
He went on to explain, "It does not matter because many people feel that it was the right thing to do. In fact, it was. I was later told that many lives were saved with that intervention by the Court."
Justice Muralidhar concluded his tenure as the Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court in August, culminating a 17-year career marked by several noteworthy judgments. Some argue that his elevation to the Supreme Court was impeded by the central government due to his unfavorable rulings.
In February 2020, Justice Muralidhar conducted three special sittings to address urgent pleas concerning the police's inaction during the Delhi riots.
Following an emergency late-night hearing at his residence, Justice Muralidhar issued an order instructing the police to safeguard individuals injured in the riots and ensure their safe transportation to hospitals equipped with adequate facilities.
In the same order, he directed the Delhi Police to employ all available resources to guarantee the well-being of those affected by the riots and the expeditious transfer of injured victims for emergency medical attention. He also mandated the submission of a compliance report by the police.
In a separate directive, he compelled the government to provide temporary shelter, medical care, and counseling for the displaced victims of the riots.
Immediately following these rulings, the central government reassigned Justice Muralidhar to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
