India, April 21 -- Delhi high court judge justice Swarana Kanta Sharma on Monday dismissed applications filed by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia and others seeking her recusal from hearing the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI's) appeal against a trial court order discharging them in the Delhi excise policy case.

In a judgment delivered over more than an hour, justice Sharma observed that a mere apprehension of not receiving relief cannot justify recusal, as it risked allowing litigants to influence the adjudicatory process. She held that there was no "demonstrable cause" for recusal, warning that stepping aside on the basis of perceived bias would set a disturbing precedent.

"Judges are...