Hyderabad: Justice B. Siva Shankar Rao of the Hyderabad High Court on Wednesday extended stay on the arrest of Jerusalem Mathaiah, accused in the cash-for-vote scam till further orders. The judge was hearing the quash petition of Mr Mathaiah and also a miscellaneous application moved by TRS MLA, Elvis Stephenson seeking the judge to recues from the hearing of quash petition.

Gandra Mohan Rao, counsel appearing for Mr Stephenson citing P.K. Ghosh v. J.G. Rajput, argued that a basic postulate of the rule of law is that “justice should not only be done but it must also be seen to be done”. He said that if there be a basis which cannot be treated as unreasonable for a litigant to expect that his matter should not be heard by a particular judge and there is no compelling necessity, such as the absence of an alternative, it is appropriate that the learned judge should recues himself from the bench hearing that matter.  

While urging the judge to post the case before another bench, he recalled that the apex court had already ruled that courts cannot take a lenient view in the cases where bribing of public representative is involved. The arguments will continue on Thursday. Meanwhile, Mr Mathaiah has filed a counter affidavit opposing the plea of Mr Stephenson to recues the judge from hearing the case. Also, Justice Raja Elango of the HC granted time to the ACB till Friday to file additional counter affidavit on bail application by Revanth Reddy.