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'Targeted for being a lower caste...', Supreme Court anger, 'that' verdict in discussion
Delhi: Condemning caste-based discrimination in the judiciary, the Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on a senior judicial officer for being targeted just because he was the son of a cobbler. The apex court also upheld the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court bench that had set aside the high court's administrative decision to dismiss him and directed him to be reinstated.
Taking the alleged caste-based discrimination seriously, Justice Suryakant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court said that he is aware of the developments in the judiciary in Punjab and that a judicial officer whose father is a cobbler and mother is a labourer was targeted just because he was from a lower caste. How long will this continue...' the judge also raised an angry question on this occasion.
A bench of Justices Kant and N. Kotishwar Singh examined the ACR of Prem Kumar. Prem Kumar was directly appointed as an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Punjab in 2014. The Supreme Court said that his track record and work were described as good by the judges supervising him. However, the next year his performance suddenly deteriorated and he was ranked even lower with 'questionable integrity' but the performance and integrity criteria improved.
Challenging the dismissal..
In April 2022, the High Court administratively terminated Prem Kumar's services, as was the norm, while scrutinising his performance and record. To protect his rights, Kumar challenged his dismissal in the High Court through a writ petition. In January this year, a bench of the High Court allowed the writ petition, setting aside the recommendations of the Full Court on March 7, 2022, as well as the order dismissing him from service on April 20, 2022. The High Court appealed to the Supreme Court against the bench's order.
Meanwhile, while dismissing the appeal, a bench headed by Justice Kant said that "they are being targeted just because they belong to a lower caste. This is a big problem in the High Court. The High Court should treat its judicial officers impartially." The bench ordered immediate reinstatement of Prem Kumar with seniority, payment of full arrears of salary and completion of the vigilance inquiry.
Delhi: Condemning caste-based discrimination in the judiciary, the Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on a senior judicial officer for being targeted just because he was the son of a cobbler. The apex court also upheld the order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court bench that had set aside the high court's administrative decision to dismiss him and directed him to be reinstated.
Taking the alleged caste-based discrimination seriously, Justice Suryakant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court said that he is aware of the developments in the judiciary in Punjab and that a judicial officer whose father is a cobbler and mother is a labourer was targeted just because he was from a lower caste. How long will this continue...' the judge also raised an angry question on this occasion.
A bench of Justices Kant and N. Kotishwar Singh examined the ACR of Prem Kumar. Prem Kumar was directly appointed as an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Punjab in 2014. The Supreme Court said that his track record and work were described as good by the judges supervising him. However, the next year his performance suddenly deteriorated and he was ranked even lower with 'questionable integrity' but the performance and integrity criteria improved.
Challenging the dismissal..
In April 2022, the High Court administratively terminated Prem Kumar's services, as was the norm, while scrutinising his performance and record. To protect his rights, Kumar challenged his dismissal in the High Court through a writ petition. In January this year, a bench of the High Court allowed the writ petition, setting aside the recommendations of the Full Court on March 7, 2022, as well as the order dismissing him from service on April 20, 2022. The High Court appealed to the Supreme Court against the bench's order.
Meanwhile, while dismissing the appeal, a bench headed by Justice Kant said that "they are being targeted just because they belong to a lower caste. This is a big problem in the High Court. The High Court should treat its judicial officers impartially." The bench ordered immediate reinstatement of Prem Kumar with seniority, payment of full arrears of salary and completion of the vigilance inquiry.
Taking the alleged caste-based discrimination seriously, Justice Suryakant of the Punjab and Haryana High Court said that he is aware of the developments in the judiciary in Punjab and that a judicial officer whose father is a cobbler and mother is a labourer was targeted just because he was from a lower caste. How long will this continue...' the judge also raised an angry question on this occasion.
A bench of Justices Kant and N. Kotishwar Singh examined the ACR of Prem Kumar. Prem Kumar was directly appointed as an Additional District and Sessions Judge in Punjab in 2014. The Supreme Court said that his track record and work were described as good by the judges supervising him. However, the next year his performance suddenly deteriorated and he was ranked even lower with 'questionable integrity' but the performance and integrity criteria improved.
Challenging the dismissal..
In April 2022, the High Court administratively terminated Prem Kumar's services, as was the norm, while scrutinising his performance and record. To protect his rights, Kumar challenged his dismissal in the High Court through a writ petition. In January this year, a bench of the High Court allowed the writ petition, setting aside the recommendations of the Full Court on March 7, 2022, as well as the order dismissing him from service on April 20, 2022. The High Court appealed to the Supreme Court against the bench's order.
Meanwhile, while dismissing the appeal, a bench headed by Justice Kant said that "they are being targeted just because they belong to a lower caste. This is a big problem in the High Court. The High Court should treat its judicial officers impartially." The bench ordered immediate reinstatement of Prem Kumar with seniority, payment of full arrears of salary and completion of the vigilance inquiry.
