Judiciary cracks down on black sheep

As the country debates on ways to check judicial corruption, the judiciary is acting against the black sheep within.

As the country debates on ways to check judicial corruption, the judiciary is acting against the black sheep within.

HT Image

According to data released by the Supreme Court on its website, departmental enquiries have been initiated against 305 district court judges/judicial magistrates while 17 have been removed and 75 prematurely retired across the country in view of allegations of corruption and misconduct between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011.

Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 44 judicial officers facing departmental enquiries followed by Rajasthan (42), Madhya Pradesh (33), Maharashtra (31), Jammu and Kashmir 23) and Gujarat (22).

There were 325 judicial officers whose probation was extended for various reasons. Madhya Pradesh topped the list followed by West Bengal and Andaman & Nicobar.

Maximum number of judicial officers discharged or discontinued from service during the period for misconduct was in Chhattisgarh where six such cases were reported.

Of the total 75 judicial officers prematurely retired on account of various charges, maximum 16 were from Chhattisgarh followed by Rajasthan (15), Maharashtra (10), Punjab and Haryana (7) and Gujarat (6).