The petitions, filed by Samajwadi Party vice president Tushar Gandhi, Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, Maharashtra Minority Front and Bombay Aman Committee, were transferred from the court of the Chief Justice to the bench of Justice B P Saraf and Justice P D Upasani.

Majeed Memon and B A Desai, counsel for Tushar Gandhi and Maharashtra Minority Front respectively submitted that a similar petition pending before the Supreme Court was not an impediment in the way of High Court hearing this matter.

However, the bench headed by Justice B P Saraf opined that they should make their submissions on the next occasion.