The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by Advocate Ashok Pandey seeking payment of ₹1 crore from the Union Government as compensation for legal services he claimed to have rendered in cases filed to “save” former Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi dismissed the petition, calling it “misconceived.” The bench also said that the Allahabad High Court had rightly rejected Pandey’s earlier plea.

At the very outset of the hearing, Chief Justice Kant questioned the basis of Pandey’s claim for compensation, pointing out that Pandey had represented himself in the case.

“You have not incurred any expenses? You appeared in person,” the CJI told Pandey.

Pandey responded that he had spent around ₹2 lakh while pursuing the litigation. He also said that he had borrowed money from his daughter to meet the expenses.

Court Reacts To ‘Hon’ble’ Remark:
During the hearing, Pandey referred to the former judge using the term “Hon’ble.” The Chief Justice questioned this, noting that Pandey had earlier made serious allegations against the judge.

“After making all nasty allegations against a judge, why are you using the word ‘Hon’ble’?” the CJI asked.

Pandey replied that when the former Chief Justice was facing impeachment proceedings, no one had come forward to defend him.

Responding to this, the Chief Justice made a sarcastic remark, saying that people who claim to do such acts as social service should not expect money for it.

Social Service Cannot Be Priced:
“You provided great social service to the institution. It is priceless. How can it be quantified at Rs 1 Crore or Rs 2 Crore,” the CJI said.

Challenge To Allahabad High Court  Order:
The petitioner had approached the Supreme Court challenging a judgment of the Allahabad High Court, which had earlier dismissed his petition. In that petition, Pandey had asked the Union Ministry of Law and Justice to pay him ₹1 crore as fees and litigation expenses.

He claimed that he had filed some cases in the Supreme Court to protect the then Chief Justice of India, Justice Dipak Misra, from “humiliation, insult, torture, and removal.”

High Court Refused Appeal Certificate:
The Allahabad High Court bench of Justice Rajan Roy and Justice Om Prakash Shukla rejected his plea. The court also refused his request to issue a certificate that would allow him to appeal before the Supreme Court under Article 134A of the Constitution of India.

In his writ petition before the High Court, Advocate Ashok Pandey, who appeared in person, had also challenged the rejection of his representation sent to the President of India on February 28, 2024.

Through that representation, he had asked for ₹1 crore as compensation for what he described as legal services he had provided in ‘saving’ the then Chief Justice Misra.
After the High Court dismissed his plea, Pandey asked the court to issue a certificate that would allow him to appeal before the Supreme Court. He argued that his petition raised a substantial question of law about the relationship between the President and officials of the Ministry.

He questioned whether a reference sent by the President could be rejected by the Ministry. He said this issue should be considered in light of the constitutional status of the Hon’ble President. However, the court rejected this request.

Background: 2018 Impeachment Notice
In April 2018, 71 Rajya Sabha members from seven political parties had signed a notice seeking impeachment proceedings against Justice Misra. However, the notice was rejected by the then Vice-President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman, Venkaiah Naidu, who said the notice lacked “substantial merit.”

Case Details: Ashok Pandey vs Union of India

Diary No. 106/2026