Supreme Court Criticizes Non-Reinstatement of Judicial Officer in Punjab

The Supreme Court criticized the Punjab and Haryana High Court for not reinstating a judicial officer who was sacked over an alleged affair despite the top court's 2022 ruling to set aside his termination. The saga, ongoing since 2009, involves controversial judicial decisions and continued appeals.

The Supreme Court has expressed its discontent with the Punjab and Haryana High Court for not reinstating a judicial officer who was dismissed over an alleged affair with a lady judicial officer, despite the apex court nullifying his termination in 2022.

The case has been circulating between the high court and the Supreme Court since 2009. A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice P B Varale pointed out that the Supreme Court, on April 20, 2022, had overturned the high court's 2018 order dismissing the judicial officer's plea against his termination.

The court emphasized that once the termination order is annulled, the employee should be reinstated with full benefits until a new termination order is issued. The bench further added that the judicial officer is entitled to back wages and full salary for specific periods and allowed him to contest recent orders again in the high court.

(With inputs from agencies.)