Petition in SC for providing special aircraft to CJI

NEW DELHI: A petition was on Wednesday moved in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the government to provide a special aircraft to the Chief Justice of India for his movements like the President. The petition said since the CJI administers oath to the President, he should be treated equally in providing facilities like special aircraft for his travel. The petition filed by an NGO, Naya Bharti, also sought a direction for providing SPG protection to the CJI and Z-category security to the Chief Justices of High Courts. The NGO has challenged the Allahabad High Court verdict dismissing the petition on the ground that the issues raised in it cannot be treated as public interest litigation. In the Special Leave Petition (SLP), the NGO said the petition should be treated as PIL since it has raised issues relating to the independence of judiciary and issues related to the security of judges. THE ECONOMIC TIMES; 2 Apr, 2008, 1945 hrs IST, PTI