High Court Judges Equal to Supreme Court Judges in Status and Immunity: Says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court clarified that High Court judges hold equal constitutional status to Supreme Court judges, with identical immunities, and are in no way inferior to them.

While the Supreme Court may reverse, affirm, or modify HC decisions, it has no administrative authority over them.

The remarks came while directing lawyers, who made scandalous allegations against a Telangana HC judge in a transfer petition, to issue unconditional apologies, stressing the need to protect judges from unfounded attacks.

The observations follow last week’s temporary removal, later withdrawn, of an Allahabad HC judge from criminal jurisdiction over an erroneous order, highlighting judicial independence principles.

[IN Re: N. Peddi Raju & Ors]