THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, August 8: The Supreme Court on Friday recalled its August 4 order that had directed the removal of Allahabad High Court judge Prashant Kumar from hearing criminal cases until his retirement and mandated that he sit only with a senior judge.
The apex court clarified that its intention was never to embarrass or cast doubts on the judge’s conduct.
The bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan deleted the controversial observations after Chief Justice of India B R Gavai requested a reconsideration of the matter.
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The court reiterated that its earlier remarks were meant to uphold the dignity of the judiciary, not to target an individual member.
Recognising that the Chief Justice of the High Court is the master of the roster, the Supreme Court left it to him to decide whether any changes to judicial assignments are necessary.
The now-withdrawn August 4 order had come after Justice Kumar upheld the issuance of criminal summons in what the apex court deemed a civil dispute.
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The directive had sparked unease within the Allahabad High Court, with Justice Arindam Sinha and six other judges writing to High Court Chief Justice Arun Bhansali, urging a full court meeting to discuss the implications of the Supreme Court’s intervention.
