Justice Pankaj Bhatia of Allahabad High Court Seeks Removal from Bail Roster Following Supreme Court Observations

Justice Pankaj Bhatia of the Allahabad High Court has requested to be removed from the bail roster, citing demoralising effects from recent Supreme Court observations that impact his judicial decisions.

Justice Pankaj Bhatia of the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench has stepped down from hearing bail pleas. This decision follows recent remarks by the Supreme Court, which he found deeply discouraging. Justice Bhatia refused to hear a bail plea from Rakesh Tiwari and asked the high court's chief justice to remove him from the bail roster.

The Supreme Court's comments came after it overturned a bail order issued by Justice Bhatia on October 10, 2025. The case involved a man accused of causing his wife's death by strangulation in a dowry-related incident. The accused had been jailed since July 27, 2025, with no prior criminal record, which was noted in the bail order.

Supreme Court's Criticism

The Supreme Court described the October 10, 2025, bail order as "one of the most shocking and disappointing orders" it had encountered. It questioned the high court's rationale for granting bail in such a serious case. The apex court's judgment was sent to the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court for review.

Justice Bhatia expressed that no judge can claim their decisions are never overturned. However, he felt that the Supreme Court's observations, especially in paragraphs 4 and 29 of their judgment, were particularly disheartening. These comments have significantly impacted his willingness to handle bail cases.

Request to Withdraw Bail Cases

Following these events, Justice Bhatia requested that he no longer be assigned bail matters. He urged the chief justice not to allocate him such cases for hearing. This request reflects his discomfort with continuing in this role after the Supreme Court's remarks.

The Supreme Court's February 9 verdict came in response to a challenge by Chetram Verma against Justice Bhatia's earlier bail order. The top court's decision highlights concerns over how discretion was exercised in granting bail for a dowry death case.

This development underscores the impact of higher court judgments on lower court judges. Justice Bhatia's recusal illustrates how critical feedback from superior courts can influence judicial roles and responsibilities.

With inputs from PTI