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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has ordered the Principal District Judge of Thane to conduct an inquiry into the functioning and administration of the Juvenile Court in Bhiwandi, Thane.

A division bench of Justice AS Gadkari and Justice Neela Gokhale was informed by the police that the clerk at the juvenile court refused to allow the police to file a charge sheet in the absence of the juvenile in conflict with the law.

The high court, in its order dated April 8, directed the clerk and Presiding Judicial Officer to accept the charge sheet in the absence of the juvenile.

The investigative officer, on June 11, informed the bench that despite two orders of the high court, the juvenile court refused to accept the charge sheet.

The high court, while condemning the conduct of the clerk and registry, noted that it was disgraceful and amounted to interference in the administration of justice.

“Prima facie, it appears to us that the clerk Mr. Sudhir Pawar attached to Juvenile Court at Bhiwandi has blatantly flouted the Orders passed by this Court. He has displayed total disregard for our Orders. It is unfortunate to note that even the Presiding Officer of that Court namely Smt. Seema Ghute is either oblivious to the orders passed by this Court or has feigned deliberate ignorance thereto,” the order states.

Before issuing a contempt notice, the high court deemed it appropriate to direct the Principal Judge to conduct an inquiry.

The high court has directed the Principal District Judge to submit the inquiry report by June 26.