Another High Court Judge (former ITAT Member) in trouble – appointment challenged
It's again a former ITAT Member who had been recently elevated to the Allahabad High Court. It was only last month that Dr. Satish Chandra, Judicial Member, ITAT joined as a judge of the Allahabad High Court and there is a petition challenging his appointment.
The petition filed by Advocate MC Gupta, alleges that the appointment is unconstitutional. The petitioner searched the official website of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, where his personal profile and career profile was fed. The petitioner found that the career profile of Satish Chandra baffling and full of gaps and loose ends. For instance, it does not mention as to from where he obtained his LLB, LLM or LD degrees. It also does not throw any light on his career as an advocate. Nine years from 1975 to 1984 are explained by mentioning that either he was with the Law Commission of India or was the constitutional advisor to the Government of Zanzibar. In between, he has also taught in certain law colleges, names of which have not been mentioned. The petitioner challenged the information that of Chandra being a High Court judge of Zanzibar, Tanzania. His name was also not enrolled as a High Court bar member, said the petitioner. Being a member of the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal as per terms in Section 252 of the Income Tax Act, does not amount to holding a judicial office belonging to the judicial service of the High Court.