In an unprecedented move, the Punjab and Haryana high court has decided to approach the supreme court (SC) against its own full-bench verdict reinstating 31 judicial officers.
Bench’s role in reinstating 31 ‘tainted’ judicial officers is questionable
CHANDIGARH: In an unprecedented move, the Punjab and Haryana high court has decided to approach the supreme court (SC) against its own full-bench verdict reinstating 31 judicial officers.
The decision comes in the wake of the “cash-at-the-judge’s-door” controversy in which the accused, now in CBI custody, had reportedly named judges with dubious credentials.
The high court bench headed by then chief justice Vijender Jain had directed the Punjab government on May 27 to reinstate the 31 Punjab Civil Service (judicial branch) officers, whose services were terminated after the vigilance bureau found administrative irregularities in their selection. They were among the candidates whose selection under Punjab Public Service Commission chairman Ravi Sidhu had been held null and void by the high court.
In 2002, the high court constituted a committee of four of its judges to look into the matter “in the light of disturbing reports in the media questioning the role of certain judges in the selections”.
The committee, which examined answer sheets of the judicial candidates, expressed reservations at the marks obtained by them.
On August 12, 2002, the high court accepted the committee’s report and recommended termination of officers selected in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
The supreme court, however, set aside the high court order and directed that the cases be examined individually to segregate tainted candidates.
The recent judgment to reinstate 31 officers had raised hackles in judicial circles, following which the high court decided to refer the matter to the supreme court last week.
The high court is expected to file a special leave petition in the apex court shortly as the accused judges reportedly also influenced the verdict on the 31 judicial officers.
b_ajay@dnaindia.net
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