Supreme Court Recalls Observation Against Allahabad HC Judge After CJI's Request

Last Updated:August 08, 2025, 13:11 IST

The Supreme Court removed its observsation of Allahabad HC judge Prashant Kumar for allowing criminal proceedings in a civil dispute, clarifying it did not intend to embarrass him.

File Photo of Supreme Court of India. (PTI)

The Supreme Court on August 4 barred Allahabad High Court Justice Prashant Kumar from taking up criminal matters. However, in a rare event, the top court revoked its observation after Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai’s request to reconsider.

The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan decided to recall the directions. They emphasised that remarks were meant to uphold the judiciary’s dignity.

Recognizing that the Chief Justice of the high court is the master of the roster, the Supreme Court left the decision to him.

“Since a request has been made by the CJI, we hereby delete paras 25 and 26 from our 4th August order. While we delete it, we leave it to the Chief Justice of the High Court to now look into the matter. We fully acknowledge that the Chief Justice of the HC is the master of the roster. The directions are absolutely not interfering with the administrative power of the Chief Justice of the High Court. When matters affect the rule of law, this Court will be compelled to take corrective steps," the Bench was quoted by the Bar and Bench as saying.

In an unprecedented order on August 4, Justices Pardiwala and Mahadevan removed criminal matters from Judge Kumar’s roster “till he demits office" after he “erroneously" upheld criminal summons in a civil dispute.

A group of Allahabad High Court judges had requested Chief Justice Arun Bhansali to convene a full court meeting in response to the Supreme Court’s order to remove Judge Kumar from the criminal roster.

The letter, written by Justice Arindam Sinha and signed by seven judges, expressed pain over the Supreme Court’s August 4 order.

In its order, the Supreme Court made strong remarks against Judge Kumar’s judicial reasoning and directed the high court administration to remove him from the criminal roster. It also instructed that he be assigned to a division bench alongside a senior judge until his retirement.

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August 08, 2025, 13:11 IST

News india Supreme Court Recalls Observation Against Allahabad HC Judge After CJI's Request

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