Rajasthan High Court Takes Swift Action After Surprise Inspection in Jodhpur
In a decisive move highlighting administrative rigor, the Registrar General of the Rajasthan High Court issued an order on Tuesday, placing eight judicial officers on awaiting posting order (APO). The action was taken citing "administrative exigencies" following a surprise inspection conducted by Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma at the High Court's heritage building complex in Jodhpur.
Surprise Inspection Uncovers Lapses During Official Hours
The inspection occurred amid heightened security checks in the morning, prompted by a bomb threat. Acting Chief Justice Sharma visited various district, metropolitan, and subordinate courts operating within the premises. During this unannounced visit, several courtrooms were found vacant, and some judicial officers were reportedly absent from their designated seats during official court hours. Notably, some officers were observed in their chambers instead of presiding over court proceedings.
Immediate Administrative Response
Taking serious note of these findings, Acting Chief Justice Sharma returned to the High Court. Within hours, Registrar General Chanchal Mishra issued an administrative order, placing the eight judicial officers under APO with immediate effect. The order emphasized administrative reasons for this disciplinary measure.
Key directives included:
- Ajay Sharma, the district judge of Jodhpur, was instructed to mark his presence at the Rajasthan High Court in Jodhpur.
- The other seven officers were directed to report to the headquarters of the district and sessions judge in Jodhpur.
List of Officers Placed on APO
The judicial officers affected by this order are:
- Ajay Sharma – District Judge, Jodhpur
- Manisha Choudhary – Judge of the Special Court for Pocso Cases in Jodhpur
- Manisha Sharma – Additional District and Sessions Judge No. 2 (Jodhpur-Metropolitan)
- Neha Sharma – Additional District and Sessions Judge (Jodhpur)
- Karuna Sharma – Senior Civil Judge-cum-Chief Judicial Magistrate (Jodhpur)
- Praveen Choudhary – Additional Senior Civil Judge-cum-Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate No. 2 (Jodhpur)
- Seema Sandhu – Additional Senior Civil Judge-cum-Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate No. 9 (Jodhpur)
- Manoj Jinger – Additional Senior Civil Judge-cum-Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate No. 7 (Jodhpur)
This swift action underscores the Rajasthan High Court's commitment to maintaining discipline and efficiency within the judicial system, ensuring that court operations adhere to established protocols during official hours.
