A judicial officer who had slapped sedition charges against Union finance minister Arun Jaitley over four months ago for his comments against the Supreme Court judgment on the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) has been suspended and an inquiry ordered for further action.
Ankit Goel, posted as judicial magistrate and civil judge at Kulpahar in Mahoba, Uttar Pradesh, has been placed under suspension following a direction issued by chief justice of Allahabad HC, DY Chandrachud, according to the HC’s registry.
Goel has been found prima facie guilty of “indiscretion in carrying out judicial work” and an inquiry has been ordered against him for further action, it said.
Goel had, taking note of media reports, slapped sedition charges against Jaitley on October 19 last year for criticising the SC verdict on NJAC and had issued summons for his personal appearance on November 19.
Jaitley had challenged the magistrate’s action in the HC that quashed the proceedings on November 5, saying the magistrate “clearly failed to apply judicial mind, acted irresponsibly and failed to bear in mind the caution and circumspection which should have preceded his assuming jurisdiction and issuing summons”.
Coming down heavily on the magistrate, the HC had said, “...this court is of the firm opinion that none of the ingredients essential for invoking the provisions of Sections 124A or 505 of the Penal Code stood attracted to the article in question.”
{{/usCountry}}Coming down heavily on the magistrate, the HC had said, “...this court is of the firm opinion that none of the ingredients essential for invoking the provisions of Sections 124A or 505 of the Penal Code stood attracted to the article in question.”
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