Supreme Court Stays MP High Court’s Remarks Terming Trial Judge “Unfit”

The Supreme Court stayed the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s observations that an Additional Sessions Judge was unfit to handle criminal cases.

The Court issued notice to the State and halted the portion of the order questioning the judge’s competence. The remarks were made while hearing an appeal in which the High Court overturned a conviction under the IPC and POCSO Act and criticised the trial judge’s appreciation of evidence.

The petitioner said the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction and violated natural justice by making adverse comments without giving him an opportunity to be heard.

The matter will be taken up after the State files its response.

[Pankaj Chaturvedi v. State of Madhya Pradesh]