New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Friday termed as illegal the promotion of 68 judicial officers of Gujarat to the post of district judges and stayed the notification of the state government citing the matter pending before the court.
Justice M.R. Shah and Justice CT Ravi Kumar ordered a stay of the Gujarat High Court’s recommendation to promote judicial officers and the state government’s notification in this regard. The bench ordered the 68 judicial officers to continue in their pre-promotion positions till the final decision on the promotion dispute.
Justice Shah, who was presiding over the bench, while pronouncing the order, said that the issue of promotion of the concerned judicial officers is under consideration of the court. In such a situation, the notification of his promotion is not justified. A two-judge bench headed by Justice Shah said in its judgment that merit, seniority and necessary scrutiny are essential for the promotion of judicial officers. Ignoring them is illegal.
Harish Hasmukhbhai Verma is among the 68 judicial officers whose promotion has been stayed by this order of the apex court. Mr. Verma had convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case and sentenced him. After this decision, the membership of Shri Gandhi’s Lok Sabha was terminated.
PC: Hindustan
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