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Journalism of Courage
A full Bench of the Orissa High Court has handed disgraced High Court judge Lalit Kumar Mishra a compulsory retirement notice with three months of pay,ending an inglorious chapter of the states judiciary.
The 55-year-old judge,who would probably have retired as a judge of the High Court seven years later,fell from grace in January this year when he was demoted as district judge of Kalahandi from being an additional judge in the High Court. Mishra,who joined the High Court after serving as judge in several district courts and as additional secretary in the law department,was denied confirmation as a full-time judge of the High Court following his alleged involvement in rigging the selection of two candidates for posts of district judges from the Bar.
Though the High Court had transferred him to Kalahandi,Mishra did not join his new posting and extended his leave by two months,said a source in the High Court registry. With Mishra showing defiance,a few days ago a full bench of the HC headed by acting Chief Justice Ishrat Masroor Quddusi decided on handing him compulsory retirement. The decision was sent to the Governor for his approval. After the Governors nod,the High Court on Tuesday sent him the notice with three months of advance pay.
But Mishra,who is still living in one of the judges bungalows in Cuttack,reportedly returned the notice. He seemed to be defiant and thus action was taken on administrative ground, the source said. The High Court has already withdrawn all perks and amenities including computers,peons and official phones provided to him.
Mishra could not be reached for his comment,but High Court sources said the disgraced judge has written letters to the Chief Justice of India,seeking clarification about his position.
Mishra,who joined the High Court as additional judge in January 17,2008,was accused of raising the marks of two of the six candidates who had appeared for the written test for selection of district judges directly from the Bar last August. The two candidates had not secured the necessary 50 per cent marks,but their marks were altered allegedly with the connivance of Mishra. It was detected when the interview board insisted on seeing the answersheets of all the six candidates called for the interview.
Soon after,Justice Quddusi conducted an inquiry and found Mishra guilty. He wrote to the CJI and suggested suitable action and reconsideration of the decision to appoint Mishra as a judge. As a result,Mishra was relegated to the district court of Kalahandi.
