The Supreme Court on Friday observed that high courts should act like “parents” for their judicial officers while addressing personal and family-related concerns, as it directed the Jharkhand High Court to reconsider the posting of a woman judicial officer, a single parent, in light of her son’s upcoming Class 12 board examinations.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was hearing the plea of an Additional District Judge (ADJ), belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, who had challenged the denial of her six-month childcare leave request. She was subsequently transferred to Dumka, a posting she opposed citing the absence of good CBSE schools in the district.
“The high courts have to be alive to the problems of their judicial officers,” the bench remarked, adding, “The high courts should act as parents to their judicial officers and should not make such issues as ego issues.”
The ADJ had initially sought six months’ childcare leave from June to December 2025, as permitted under the Child Care Leave Rules that entitle judicial officers to 730 days of leave during service. However, she was only granted three months.
In her representation before the high court, she requested to either continue at Hazaribagh, where she was previously posted, or be transferred to Ranchi or Bokaro, given her son’s critical academic year.
Directing relief, the Supreme Court ordered that the officer be either allowed to remain in Hazaribagh or transferred to Bokaro at least until March–April 2026, coinciding with the completion of the board exams.
“You either transfer her to Bokaro or allow her to remain at Hazaribagh at least till March/April 2026 … till the period when the exams are over,” the CJI directed.
The Jharkhand High Court has been given two weeks to comply with the directions.
In May, the top court had already sought responses from the Jharkhand government and the high court registry on her plea. The matter will now be monitored to ensure compliance with the Supreme Court’s order.
