‘Persons in glasshouses should not throw stones at others’: SC to ex-Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh; plea withdrawn

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea by former Mumbai Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh seeking transfer of all criminal cases registered against him in Maharashtra to Central Bureau of Investigation or any other ‘independent agency’.

The top court during the course of the hearing observed that persons in glasshouses should not throw stones at others.

The Court also took exception to Singh's stand that he did not have faith in the state police, which he served for more than 30 years.

"You were part of Maharashtra cadre for 30 years and served it. Now you are saying you do not have faith in that system. It is shocking," the Bench remarked, Bar & Bench reported.

A Bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and V Ramasubramanian said at the outset that it cannot pass a blanket order regarding all FIRs and also asked Singh to approach Bombay High Court or any other appropriate forum.

"If you want to address on merits, we will hear you and pass an order. Else we will grant liberty to withdraw this and go to Bombay High Court," the Bench told Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani who was appearing for Singh.

The plea by Singh besides seeking transfer of case against him also challenged the order passed by the State on March 17 transferring Singh from the post of Commissioner, Mumbai Police as being violative of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution.

"Mr. Jethmalani, it is said persons living in glasshouses should not throw stones at other," the Bench remarked during the hearing on Friday.

"Your Lordships are assuming I (Param Bir Singh) am living in glasshouse," Jethmalani responded.

"Maybe," the Bench responded.

Singh eventually proceeded to withdraw his petition which the Court allowed.

Another police officer Bhimraj Rohidas Ghadge, had also filed an intervention application before the Supreme Court opposing the transfer of cases filed against Singh to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), stating that the writ petition filed by Singh for this purpose amounted to pure abuse of the due process of law.

The application stated that Singh cannot seek transfer of cases by filing writs before the Supreme Court at his whims and fancies, when he is getting protection form the Bombay High Court.