Supreme Court directs ascertainment of authenticity of any complaint before taking action against judicial officers

All High Courts and subordinate judiciary has been asked been strictly directed by the apex Court to ascertain the authenticity of any complaint received against a judicial officer before taking any action on it. They have been asked to not entertain any complaint against a judicial officer unless it is accompanied by sworn affidavits and "verifiable material to substantiate the allegation".

The Court expressed anxiety over the increasing number of complaints being received against the subordinate judiciary by people having vested interest and personal agenda.

Adhering to this direction, a circular has additionally been issued by the Delhi High Court to the trial courts, saying, "The complaint making allegations against members of subordinate judiciary in the States should not be entertained and no action should be taken on it, unless it is accompanied by the duly sworn affidavit and verifiable material to substantiate the allegation made therein.”

The Delhi High Court has written these letters to all subordinate courts and instructed them to give wide publicity to the guidelines. The letter added, "If an action on such complaint meeting the above requirement is deemed necessary, authenticity of the complaint should be duly ascertained and further steps thereon should be taken only after satisfaction of the competent authority designated by the Chief Justice of the High Court.”