LI Network
Published on: October 25, 2023 at 15:02 IST
The Supreme Court has issued a warning against judges taking up cases not specifically assigned to them by the Chief Justice.
The Court stated that this practice constitutes ‘gross impropriety’ and undermines the designated roster. The remarks came in response to a case from the High Court of Rajasthan regarding the clubbing of certain First Information Reports (FIRs) in a civil writ petition.
The High Court granted interim relief in this matter, but the Supreme Court criticized the judge for entertaining the civil petition when jurisdiction for such issues falls under criminal matters. The Court also condemned the accused persons for seeking relief through civil petitions after being denied relief in criminal petitions.
The Court imposed a cost of Rs. 50,000 on the accused, describing their actions as a ‘gross abuse of process of law‘ and ‘forum hunting.’ The Court emphasized the importance of adhering to the Chief Justice’s roster and respecting the discipline required in such matters.
Case Title: Ambalal Parihar vs State of Rajasthan and ors,