In a significant turn of events, the Allahabad High Court has overturned the dismissal of several trainee judges related to a 2012 incident at a resort in Lucknow, where they were accused of creating a disturbance in an alleged inebriated state. The Lucknow Bench, consisting of Justice Jaspreet Singh, Justice Manish Mathur, and Justice Subhash Vidyarthi, ruled in favor of the reinstatement of these individuals as probationary officers.
The controversy began when the trainee judges, who were part of the 2012 batch attending an induction program at the Institute of Judicial Training and Research (JTRI), were alleged to have engaged in disorderly conduct at the Charans Club and Resort on Ayodhya Road. The incident, which took place on September 7, just a day before the end of their training session, involved allegations of excessive alcohol consumption by the 16 trainee judges present.
In the judgment released on Monday, the court highlighted that the trainee judges were removed from service based on stigmatic allegations without being given an opportunity to defend themselves. This action was deemed contrary to the principles of natural justice, particularly the right to a fair hearing.
The petitioners had contended that the decisions regarding their removal were not only stigmatic but also illegal, arguing that they should have been allowed to present their case. The full bench of the high court agreed, noting the failure to provide a proper hearing before executing the dismissal orders.
This ruling not only reinstates the affected individuals but also sets a precedent regarding the treatment of trainee officials in the judiciary. It underscores the necessity of adhering to due process, especially in cases where the allegations have significant career and personal implications for those involved.
