2 junior judges sacked in judicial cleansing

 

Two subordinate judges —— Karthikeyan, Judicial Magistrate, Coimbatore and Uma Maheswari, District Munsif, Alandur — have lost their jobs, according to reliable sources. On completion of probation, their services were not confirmed on account of unsatisfactory performance, according to official sources.

 

The decision was taken last Tuesday and reflected strongly Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul’s resolve to keep the subordinate judiciary not only competent to handle its tasks but also remain corruption-free, a high ranking source said.

 

“The high courts have been alert about ensuring efficient and non-corrupt subordinate judiciary ever since the Supreme Court laid down clean and clear guidelines on this issue while delivering the verdict in Rajendra Singh Verma Vs Lt Government, Delhi case’, said a legal officer.

 

“Operation cleanup” started last month with district judges Zaffarullah Khan and Ravindran getting axed following certain allegations against them.  Subsequently, two more district judges were given marching orders in similar circumstances. 

 

Normally, a district judge retires at the age of 58, though many get extension for two years based on their track record. These extensions were the prerogative of the high court.

 

The usual practice is that the high court after proper scrutiny and elaborate evaluation sends recommendations for extension of service (beyond 58) or the marching orders. The government then issues the order. In these four cases, the district judges were not given extension of service, following certain allegations against them.