Allahabad High Court Judge Withdraws from Bail Roster Following Supreme Court Rebuke
In a significant development, Justice Pankaj Bhatia of the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench has expressed his unwillingness to continue as part of the bail roster. This decision came on Friday after the Supreme Court castigated the manner in which he had granted bail in a previous case, leading to what he described as a huge demoralising and chilling effect on him.
Background of the Supreme Court's Criticism
The controversy stems from a bail plea filed by Rakesh Tiwari. When the case was presented before Justice Bhatia, he took notice of remarks made by the Supreme Court in the case of Chetram Verma on February 9. In that instance, Justice Bhatia had granted bail on October 10, 2025, to a husband accused of killing his wife over dowry.
The complainant, Chetram Verma, challenged this bail order before the Supreme Court, which set it aside with severe observations. The Supreme Court stated, The impugned order of Oct 10, 2025, is one of the most shocking and disappointing orders that we have come across over a period of time.
Details of the Supreme Court's Observations
The Supreme Court noted that the High Court had only considered that the accused husband had been in jail since July 27, 2025, and had no criminal history before granting bail. It questioned, What weighed with the high court in exercising its discretion in favour of the accused for the purpose of grant of bail in a very serious crime like dowry death?
After quashing the High Court order, the Supreme Court sent a copy of its decision to the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice for review of the manner in which the bail application was handled.
Justice Bhatia's Response and Impact
Upset by the Supreme Court's remarks, Justice Bhatia refused to hear the current bail application and formally requested the High Court's Chief Justice not to allocate him any bail matters for hearing in the future. He acknowledged that while it is well known that no judge can claim their orders have never been set aside, the Supreme Court's observations have profoundly affected his morale.
This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and accountability within the Indian judiciary, particularly in sensitive cases involving serious crimes like dowry deaths. It underscores the importance of judicial discretion and the scrutiny it faces from higher courts.
