SC pulls up judicial officers exceeding jurisdiction

New Delhi, Nov 16 (UNI) The Supreme Court today pulled up Judicial Officers passing orders without jurisdiction and granting bail for extraneous considerations and dismissed the appeal of a Judicial Officer from Gurgaon in Haryana, challenging his removal from service for the aforesaid reasons.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran dismissed the petition of Ram Dhari Jatain, who has been removed from service by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for passing a bail order without jurisdiction in favour of a person involved in an offence under the Excise Act.

Senior counsel Raju Ramchandran contended before the court that the punishment was too harsh and the petitioner, who was posted as Judicial Magistrate, Ferozepur Junta in Gurgaon, has been entertaining petitions from the court of the Judicial Magistrate, Nooh whenever Nooh Magistrate was on leave. The petitioner has been authorised to do so by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Gurgaon.

He also pleaded that the person who has been granted bail was involved in a petty offence of carrying only 40 pouches of illegal liquor and no impropriety was involved.

UNI