52 temporary munsiff-magistrates repatriated to parent cadres

Kochi: Kerala High Court has called back 52 temporary munsiff-magistrates and repatriated them to their parent cadres. Registrar (Subordinate Judiciary) passed the order on June 1. The High Court had appointed the officers as temporary munsiff- magistrates in the Kerala Judicial Service in accordance with rule 9 (1) Kerala Judicial Service Rules. With the order,  several magistrates,  some even having more than five years of service as  temporary magistrates, will have to go back to their parent cadre.

Registrar (Subordinate Judiciary) directed the district judges/ chief judicial magistrates concerned to make necessary charge arrangements in the wake of the removal of temporary magistrates and to ensure  at least one or two days’ sitting in a week in every court which is presently manned by the temporary munsiff-magistrate.

The district judges/ chief judicial magistrates concerned were also directed to ensure that the charges of the judicial magistrates of  first class to be handed over to the munsiffs conferred with magisterial powers under section 11 (3) CrPC, if available in the same stations or the officers in the nearest station.