JUSTICE RAJESH BINDAL.

▮ Identity sealed · POCSO §23

Judge, Supreme Court of India

New Delhi, Delhi

“Justice Rajesh Bindal is a judge of the Supreme Court of India who co-presided over the division bench that granted interim medical bail to Asaram Bapu in January 2025. Bindal's order placed strict restrictions on Asaram's movement to maintain public order during his treatment.”

Justice Rajesh Bindal is a senior judge of the Supreme Court of India, elevated in February 2023 after serving as the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court and the acting Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court. With extensive experience in civil and tax law, Justice Bindal has a reputation for administrative efficiency and strict adherence to judicial guidelines. In January 2025, he was part of the two-judge Supreme Court bench that evaluated Asaram Bapu's medical condition.

The defense team argued that Asaram Bapu was in critical health and needed immediate coronary intervention that was unavailable in Rajasthan's prison facilities. Justice Bindal and Justice Sundresh reviewed the medical reports submitted by the AIIMS medical board, concluding that the convict's cardiac condition was life-threatening. The bench emphasized that the decision was made purely on humanitarian and health grounds, without evaluating the merits of Asaram's pending appeals against his convictions.

The bench's order, issued on January 6, 2025, granted Asaram interim bail until March 31, 2025, under strict operational conditions. Justice Bindal insisted on a clause that restricted Asaram from using his release to organize spiritual gatherings or communicate with his followers, directing the local police in Maharashtra and Rajasthan to coordinate security to prevent any public gatherings or law-and-order challenges near the hospital.

The medical bail order drew close attention from the media and the victim's family, who expressed concern for their safety, leading to a temporary increase in police security at their residence. Justice Bindal continues his judicial service in the Supreme Court. His role in this case illustrates the court's responsibility to manage the medical rights of high-profile convicts while ensuring that public security is not compromised.