Recusal cannot be claimed on conjecture, selective inference, or...

Recusal cannot be claimed on conjecture, selective inference, or a litigant's subjective unease; the governing test is whether a fair-minded and informed observer would find a genuine, reasonable apprehension of bias. Prima facie observations in an interim order, service on prior counsel, protective stays, expedited hearing of an MP/MLA matter, prior prima facie judgments in connected PMLA proceedings, alleged contrary findings in other forums, a political statement, judicial participation in legal events, and relatives' professional engagements were each found insufficient to show a proximate nexus with the lis. The Court rejected the applications, held that no legal basis for recusal was made out, and directed that the main petition be heard on merits uninfluenced by the allegations.

---