Overview
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the judicial officer and the Madhya Pradesh government, keeping the High Court’s reinstatement order on hold.
- The bench described the alleged behavior as “disgusting” and “grossest grave misconduct,” noting the judge should have been dismissed.
- The Division Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court had quashed the September 2019 termination and ordered reinstatement, permitting only a minor penalty for procedural lapses.
- In the criminal case, a Special Railway Magistrate acquitted the officer in March 2019 after key witnesses turned hostile and no alcohol was detected, whereas the departmental inquiry had found the charges proved.
- The Supreme Court made the notice returnable within four weeks and listed the matter for a further hearing after six weeks.