New Delhi: In its historic decision, the Supreme Court of India has, for the first time directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the corruption charges against the Allahabad High Court sitting Judge, Justice S N Shukla, here on Wednesday, July 31.

Investigative agency, the CBI was directed by Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi in his verdict today, against Justice Shukla for allegedly favouring one of the private medical college in the year 2017, in terms of students admission, even after they had completed their term of academics.

Justice Shukla is alleged of making handwritten changes in the order passed by the bench that he was heading, even though the majority of the decision was against favouring the private medical college.

He had made changes, days after the Apex Court had barred the Allahabad HC from allowing the students’ admission in GCRG Institute of Medical Science, Lucknow, for the academic year 2017-18.

The Apex Court, in its verdict against Justice Shukla has mentioned, “Justice Shukla has disgraced the values of judicial life, acted in a manner unbecoming of a judge to lower the majesty, dignity and credibility of his office.” The panel led by CJI Gogoi has considered the charges against Justice Shukla to be sufficient enough to bring him under termination.

It can be recalled that the then Chief Justice of India, Deepak Misra had found the decision of Medical Council of India, extending the term of students to be inappropriate and considering the case against Justice Shukla to be involved in bribery, he had suggested him to attain voluntary retirement, to which he did not adhere. CJI Misra had also directed the Allahabad HC not to give him any judicial work.

Also a month ago, CJI Ranjan Gogoi had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a motion in the Parliament to impeach Justice Shukla.

According to the Supreme Court ruling in 1991, before bringing the chief justice of High Court and Apex Court under any probe, the investigative agencies were directed to produce necessary evidence before the court.

Hence, this decision by CJI Gogoi, creates history by approving a probe on the chief justice of a High Court.