A judicial officer has been suspended for allegedly insulting a female court employee

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Kozhikode Additional District Judge M., who was accused of molesting a female court employee in his official chamber in the court premises. Suhaib has been suspended from service.

An emergency meeting of the Administrative Committee of the Kerala High Court presided over by Chief Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar took the decision on Wednesday (December 25, 2024) after assessing that the incident has damaged the credibility of the judicial institution of the state. According to highly placed sources, the committee has taken seriously the allegation involving a serving judicial officer allegedly inside the official chamber of the judicial officer.

The committee sought a report from the Chief District Judge of Kozhikode on Tuesday (December 24, 2024), before which the judicial officer tendered a verbal apology to the woman employee. The committee took note of the events of the day including the oral statement given by the woman before the Chief District Judge.

Even though it has been revealed that women’s verbal complaints and other incidents have violated women’s dignity, if women don’t want to file a written complaint, it may hinder legal proceedings including crime registration. The woman insisted not to proceed with the case and even refused to give a written statement. Sources said the High Court was left with not many legal options after the person allegedly injured by the actions of the judicial officer insisted on not proceeding with the criminal case.

However, the authorities will have to show reasons why action should not be taken on the charge of damaging the image of the judiciary.

A woman’s reluctance to press a complaint may also prevent the internal grievance committee at the Kozhikode court premises from proceeding legally with the case or providing necessary legal and other assistance. On its part, the High Court will act to prevent the deterioration of the judiciary’s credibility, sources indicated.

Hindu An emergency meeting of the committee has been held online to discuss the matter on Tuesday (December 24, 2024). It was the second meeting of the committee held on Wednesday (December 25, 2024) in two days in which the alleged incident shocked the legal and judicial world alike.