Read Time: 03 minutes

Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has reprimanded a magistrate for not complying with its orders.

A division bench of the high court, comprising Justice A.S. Gadkari and Justice Neela Gokhale, had directed the magistrate in a 2021 order to expedite the trial of a dowry harassment case.

"It appears to us that the Judicial Officer concerned, is not serious in performing her judicial work. This requires attention by the learned Administrative Committee of this Court," the order reads.

The order was passed by the high court in response to an application filed by a man who claimed that, despite the high court's directive to complete the trial within four months, there had been no progress.

Following the high court's direction for an expedited trial, the man withdrew his application seeking discharge.

The high court, in its order, noted that it was unable to accept the feeble excuses given by the judicial officer for not complying with the court's directions.

"We are unable to accept the feeble excuses given by the judicial officer in not complying with the directions issued by this court and paying scant respect to it. It appears to us that the judicial officer is not serious in performing her judicial work," the order reads.

The bench directed that the matter, including the magistrate's report, be placed before the high court's administrative committee for appropriate directions.