SC Upholds Madhya Pradesh HC's Order to Cancel Advocate's Judge Post over Wife's 498A Complaint
News 18The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s decision annul an advocate’s selection as a district judge for subjecting his wife to cruelty at her matrimonial home as per a complaint under Section 498A of the IPC. A bench of Justices Ashok Bhushan and M R Shah said, “The decision of the examination-cum-selection and appointment committee for holding the appellant unsuitable was based on the relevant consideration, that is, a criminal case against the appellant under Section 498A/406/34 IPC was pending consideration which was registered on a complaint filed by the wife of the appellant.” The court further refused to take into consideration the subsequent acquittal of the advocate ordered by the trial court in the case. The fact that subsequently, the advocate was acquitted in the criminal case did not furnish sufficient ground for reconsidering the appellant for appointment on the post,” Justice Bhushan wrote in the judgement. Appearing for the lawyer, senior advocate R Venkataramani argued that the top court must consider his appeal against the HC order for removal of the “stigma” due to deletion of the appellant’s name from the selection list.