Trend these days to malign judges with baseless allegations: Allahabad High Court imposes Rs 10k cost on litigant

The Allahabad High Court recently said that there is a trend these days to malign judges with baseless allegations which is required to be put down with a heavy hand.

 

Stating thus, the bench of Justice J.J. Munir imposed a cost of Rs. 10,000 on a man, who sought transfer of his case from the trial court alleging that the judge was under the influence of opposite parties.

One Mohd. Sarfaraz sought the transfer of his matter from the Court of Civil Judge (Jr. Division), Nagina, District – Bijnore to any other Court of competent jurisdiction in the Judgeship of Bijnore.

Sarfaraz alleged that the counsel for the respondent had a 15-minute-long meeting with the trial judge in his chamber while the Parokar (advocate) of the respondents guarded the gate of the judge’s chamber.

He informed the high court that he had earlier filed a plea seeking transfer of his case before the District Judge.

The single judge bench of the high court noted that the District Judge had rejected petitioner’s plea after perusal of the material on record and not finding any merit in the plea.  

The bench opined that the allegations that had been leveled against the Presiding Officer in the Trial Court were reflective of the current trend in the society where the general public has developed the mindset to overawe Judges by complaining and maligning them on baseless allegations.

Therefore, the court dismissed the petitioner’s plea while imposing cost to be deposited in the account of District Services Legal Authority, Bijnore within 15 days from the date of the order.

“In case, the cost is not deposited, the District Magistrate, Bijnore shall recover the costs as arrears of land revenue and cause them to be deposited in the account of the Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Bijnore forthwith, Court ordered.

Case Title: Mohd. Sarfaraz v. Mohd. Abid And 3 Others