High Court Transfers Rohini District Judge

The Delhi High Court moved a Rohini district judge out of active court work on May 17 after a courtroom confrontation with a lawyer set off protests across Delhi’s district courts. Registrar General Arun Bhardwaj issued the order attaching District Judge-4 (North West) Rakesh Kumar-V to the director of the Delhi Judicial Academy with immediate effect. The transfer came after the Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations, Delhi, demanded his removal and called for lawyers to abstain from judicial work on May 18. Bar leaders said the dispute involved Advocate Rajiv Tehlan, the president of the Rohini Court Bar Association. ### Which judge was moved, and where was he sent? The High Court’s May 17 order attached Rakesh Kumar-V, posted as District Judge-4 in North West district at Rohini Courts, to the Delhi Judicial Academy in diverted capacity. The same order transferred judicial officer Dhiraj Mittal from the academy to Rohini Courts as District Judge-4 for North West district. (aninews.in) Bar & Bench, citing the Registrar General’s order, reported that the decision was taken by the Chief Justice and other High Court judges. ANI reported that the transfer took effect immediately. ### What set off the dispute at Rohini Courts? May 16 was the date cited by the Coordination Committee in its circular describing the incident as “highly objectionable and unbecoming conduct” by the judge toward an advocate during court proceedings. (aninews.in) ANI identified the advocate as Rajiv Tehlan, president of the Rohini Court Bar Association. (barandbench.com) Bar & Bench reported that a video of the exchange circulated on social media and that the altercation was linked to a dispute in court between the judge and a lawyer. Hindustan Times reported that the incident took place during a hearing and said the argument was allegedly connected to a request for adjournment. (aninews.in) ### What did the lawyers’ bodies demand? The Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations, Delhi, said after an emergent meeting that Kumar should be “immediately transferred” from Rohini Courts, that all judicial work be withdrawn from him, and that an inquiry be initiated at the earliest. The committee said the incident had caused “deep resentment and serious concern” among district court lawyers. (barandbench.com) Advocate Vijay Bishnoi, secretary general of the committee, issued a circular asking lawyers across Delhi district courts to support an abstention from work. Advocate Tarun Rana, identified by ANI as the committee’s coordinator, said the body had written to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court seeking immediate transfer of the judge and action against him. (barandbench.com) ### Was there any pushback against the bar protest? The Judicial Service Association of Delhi issued a condemnation letter after the video surfaced, according to Hindustan Times. The association called the alleged recording of court proceedings illegal and said it was meant to “scandalise the courts” and “browbeat judicial officers.” (aninews.in) Hindustan Times reported that the association also opposed the lawyers’ abstention from work, saying such action was illegal under Supreme Court guidelines. The same report said the association asked the High Court to direct deletion of videos of the incident from social media platforms. ### What happens next in Delhi’s district courts? (hindustantimes.com) May 18 was the date fixed by the Coordination Committee for lawyers across Delhi district courts to abstain from judicial work in protest, according to its circular. The High Court’s transfer order, issued the previous evening, had already replaced Kumar with Dhiraj Mittal at Rohini Courts. (hindustantimes.com) Rohini Courts will now function with Mittal as District Judge-4 for North West district, while Kumar remains attached to the Delhi Judicial Academy under the High Court’s immediate order. Any further inquiry sought by the bar bodies would depend on action by the Delhi High Court. (aninews.in) (barandbench.com)