MP judicial officer opposes proposed elevation of judge

A Madhya Pradesh woman judicial officer, whose controversial dismissal was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this year, has urged the top court collegium to reconsider its recent recommendation for elevating a senior district judge to the Madhya Pradesh high court, citing serious allegations of misconduct, caste-based harassment and abuse of authority against him.

- Utkarsh Anand

In a rare and strongly worded representation addressed to the Chief Justice of India and other companion judges in the collegium, judicial officer Aditi Kumar Sharma called the proposed elevation of district judge Rajesh Kumar Gupta a “gross misjudgment that threatens the credibility of judicial institutions”.

Along with four other judicial officers, Gupta, who is currently working as principal district and sessions judge at Ujjain, was on July 2 recommended by the collegium for appointment in the state high court. He is the senior most in the list of nominees.

Gupta declined HT’s request for comment, citing ethics and code of conduct. Gupta added that he is functioning under the subordination of the high court and therefore, it is only for the office of registrar general to the high court to respond on such matters.

On her part, Sharma also refused to issue a statement owing to her service conditions even as she confirmed that she has moved a representation.

THE JUDICIAL OFFICER'S DISMISSAL WAS OVERTURNED BY THE SC FOUR MONTHS BACK