The Madras High Court has issued directions to place an inquiry report regarding the conduct of a Principal District and Sessions Judge in Kancheepuram before the High Court’s Vigilance Committee, emphasizing that the findings confirm the misuse of judicial powers to settle personal grievances. The report, prepared by the Registrar (Vigilance) under the High Court’s supervision, detailed multiple incidents that highlighted abuse of authority by the judge, reflecting serious concerns about judicial propriety and accountability.
The matter arose when the District Judge issued two suo motu orders in September 2025. The first order, dated September 4, instructed the externment of certain accused individuals from the district. The second, issued on September 8, directed the remand of Deputy Superintendent of Police M. Sankar Ganesh under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The remand was ostensibly linked to the alleged failure of the officer to arrest the judge’s former Personal Security Officer (PSO), who was suspected of circulating false information regarding the judge. These orders raised significant questions about the motivations behind the judicial actions and whether the judge had overstepped legal boundaries.
Following these events, the High Court initiated a detailed inquiry into the conduct of the District Judge. The Registrar (Vigilance) compiled a report which revealed that the judge had exercised his powers to influence the police and other authorities to take actions that were not warranted by law. Specifically, the report found that the judge had pressured the police to register cases against his former PSO and had exerted influence over a Food Safety Officer to raid a bakery owned by the PSO’s father-in-law. These actions were not related to any judicial necessity but were instead connected to personal grievances, indicating a clear misuse of the position held by the judge.
Upon reviewing the inquiry report, Justice N. Satish Kumar, who had previously set aside the District Judge’s orders, observed that the allegations of misuse were substantiated. The High Court noted that the actions of the judge amounted to an abuse of judicial authority, undermining the integrity of the judicial process. The Court emphasized the necessity of addressing such misconduct to preserve public confidence in the judiciary and maintain the rule of law. Consequently, the High Court directed that the inquiry report be placed before the Vigilance Committee as well as the Transfer Committee for further action, ensuring that the matter receives prompt attention and appropriate remedial measures.
This case underscores the importance of judicial accountability and demonstrates the mechanisms available within the judiciary to address the misuse of judicial powers. By directing that the inquiry findings be examined by the Vigilance and Transfer Committees, the Madras High Court reaffirmed the principle that no judicial officer is above scrutiny and that personal motives must not influence the exercise of judicial functions. The judgment serves as a reminder that adherence to ethical and legal standards is critical for the credibility and functioning of the justice system.
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