Punjab & Haryana High Court Revives Contempt Petition Against Additional Session Judge, Who Acquitted Murder Accused Despite Stay Order
Live LawThe Punjab & Haryana High Court has revived contempt proceedings against the then Additional Session Judge of Kapurthala, who despite the stay order of the High Court acquitted the accused in a 2016 murder case. A contempt petition was filed against the judge for disobeying the order of the High Court and in 2019 it directed the Registrar Vigilance to conduct a fact finding enquiry and submit a report. Jitender Walia, the then Additional Sessions Judge, Kapurthala, has prima facie committed contempt of Court by violating the order dated 20.05.2016 passed in CRM-M No.17395 of 2016. On completion of the enquiry by the Registrar Vigilance, the report was submitted in a sealed cover and it stated that, “In view of the aforementioned facts and circumstances, the version of Ms. Jitender Walia, the then Additional Sessions Judge, Kapurthala that she was not aware of order dated 20.05.2016 having been passed by the Hon’ble High Court is difficult to accept.” "It has to be borne in mind that the Presiding Officer was dealing with a case under Section 302 IPC.