Ahmedabad: Justice R P Dholaria of Gujarat High Court today recused himself from hearing the appeal of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Alpesh Kathiria against the lower court order rejecting his bail petition in the sedition case in which he was arrested on August 19.

Notably, Justice Dholaria had earlier on August 30, also refused to hear a petition by PAAS in which it was alleged that the police were creating hurdles for Patidar quota leader Hardik Patel’s indefinite fast by restricting his supporters to meet him at his residence here. The matter was later transferred to the court of Justice A Y Kogje.

Justice Dholaria a senior judge and coincidentally a Patidar himself (the caste to which Hardik and Kahtiriya belongs and around which his agitation built up) and native of Khamba taluka in Patidar dominant Amreli district of Saurashtra region in Gujarat, has also in the recent part refused to hear another matter involving the PAAS leader in similar manner. It was Hardik’s discharge petition in a sedition case.

Today when the matter pertaining to Kathiria’s bail came for hearing in his court he said ‘not before me’.

The matter will now be transferred to another court by the Chief Justice.

Kathiria’s bail petition was earlier rejected by the sessions court here on September 19. Hardik during his ‘failed’ fast had also made his release from jail one of the main demands.

The sedition case was registered by the crime branch of Ahmedabad police in October 2015 in connection with the violence after Hardik’s pro-quota rally here. Hardik is on bail in this case.

DeshGujarat