Police Attack On Bihar Judge : Supreme Court Asks Petitioner To Add Sub-Inspector As Party

The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned by two weeks a plea seeking for a judicial inquiry into an incident which took place in Aurangabad, Bihar, wherein a District Judge, Dr. Dinesh Kumar Pradhan, was allegedly threatened, abused and chased by a police sub-inspector. A Bench headed by Justice AM Khanwilkar directed Advocate Vishal Tiwari, appearing on behalf of the Petitioner to add the concerned police officer as a party and then approach the Court. Tiwari submitted before the Court today, "Whenever common people are concerned and attacked by the police, they approach the subordinate judiciary. Here, it was the subordinate judiciary which was attacked". Justice Khanwilkar informed Tiwari that the allegations were being made against an officer who had not even been made a party – "First correct your record and then come to us". Accordingly, the Petitioner has been directed to amend the plea and file additional documents. Matter will now be heard after two weeks. On October 21, the senior additional District Judge, Dr. Pradhan, had been allegedly abused, threatened and chased by a police sub-inspector named Pranav of the Town police station in Aurangabad when he was on an evening walk. The SI was accompanied by paramilitary personnel for a flag march at that time. In wake of the incident, the Association for Judges had addressed a letter tothe Supreme Court of India and the Patna High Court, seeking strict action against the concerned Police officials, allegedly involved in assaulting and intimidating a District Judge. The Association had condemned such actions against a Judicial Officer and had said that the same amounts to an assault on the entire Subordinate Judiciary of the nation. "On behalf of Subordinate Judicial Fraternity of Gujarat, we Admins of the Association condemn the unprecedented, unwarranted assault and intimidation occurred with Sri Dr. Dinesh Pradhan, District Judge, Aurangabad, Bihar by Bihar Police and we also condemn inaction on part of the State Government of Bihar in providing protection to Judicial Officers. This is not an assault on and insult with Dr. Pradhan only but is assault on and insult of the whole subordinate Judiciary of the nation. We demand strict and immediate action in this matter."

Police Attack On Bihar Judge : Supreme Court Asks Petitioner To Add Sub-Inspector As Party

Radhika Roy

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