SC to hear in July Gujarat judicial officers whose promotions it stayed

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (May 16) said it would hear in July a plea by several Gujarat judicial officers whose promotions it had stayed.

A Bench headed by the now-retired Justice MR Shah on May 12 stayed the promotion of 68 Gujarat lower judicial officers, including Surat Chief Judicial Magistrate Harish Hasmukhbhai Varma who had convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case.

Now, another Bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala took note of the submissions of senior advocate Meenakshi Arora.

Also read: Gujarat: SC stays promotion of 68 judges including one who convicted Rahul Gandhi

Arora, appearing for the judicial officers, said they have been reverted back to their original lower cadre by the Gujarat High Court in pursuance of the apex court’s decision.

Several judicial officers, she said, were suffering humiliation due to the demotion. Also, six states in the country follow the principle of seniority-cum-merit for promotion, the lawyer argued.

Listing after summer vacation

The chief justice said the case would be listed in July after the summer vacation, adding that they have been reverted back on account of a decision of a coordinate bench of the apex court.

The apex court earlier said the promotions violated the Gujarat State Judicial Service Rules 2005, amended in 2011, according to which promotions must be made on the principle of merit-cum-seniority and on passing a suitability test.

(With agency inputs)