Allahabad HC Transfers 14 Judicial Officers; Sambhal CJM Shifted After FIR Against Police Order
Sambhal CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer had ordered registration of FIR against senior police officials, including Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary, over alleged firing during November 2024 violence
Allahabad High Court shifts Sambhal CJM to Sultanpur following his FIR against police officer order in Sambhal violence case
The Allahabad High Court on Tuesday transferred a batch of 14 judicial officers in Uttar Pradesh, including Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Vibhanshu Sudheer of Sambhal, in an administrative reshuffle that has drawn attention due to its timing.
CJM Vibhanshu Sudheer, who recently directed the Sambhal police to register a first information report (FIR) against senior police officials over alleged police firing during the November 24, 2024 Sambhal violence, has been posted as Civil Judge (Senior Division) in Sultanpur. His transfer comes shortly after he ordered the FIR against then Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary, the station house officer and other personnel, following a complaint in which a local youth was seriously injured amid reported gunfire during the unrest.
The direction came on a petition filed by the father of the injured man, prompting the CJM to ask the police to treat the allegations as a cognisable offence and lodge an FIR accordingly.
In place of Sudheer, Aditya Singh, previously serving as Civil Judge, Senior Division, Sambhal at Chandausi, has taken charge as the new CJM of Sambhal. The changes form part of the Allahabad high court’s routine administrative exercise to reassign judicial officers across districts.
The transfer order, issued by the registrar general of the high court, also realigns several other judges. Among these, judicial officers in Kannauj, Gonda, Sitapur and other districts have been reassigned to various posts including fast-track courts, special POCSO courts and chief judicial magistrate positions as part of the reshuffle.
Sudheer’s FIR order triggered controversy at the local level, with the Sambhal police indicating their intention to challenge the magistrate’s direction in the high court.
The November 2024 Sambhal violence, which erupted during tensions over a mosque survey in the district, resulted in multiple casualties and widespread legal scrutiny. Allegedly, 700-800 unidentified individuals pelted stones at a police team during a court-ordered survey of the Mughal-era Shahi Jama Masjid in the Kot Garvi area of Sambhal. Amid the chaos, an unidentified person reportedly opened fire, resulting in a police officer sustaining a gunshot wound to the leg. The violence left four people dead and several others injured.