New Delhi: In a significant turn of events, the Supreme Court has withdrawn its earlier order barring Allahabad High Court judge Justice Prashant Kumar from hearing criminal cases. The reversal came today after Chief Justice of India BR Gavai urged the bench to reconsider its decision, calling for the removal of remarks deemed objectionable.
The court’s fresh directive not only lifts the ban but also erases the critical observations made against Justice Kumar in the August 4 order. “We close this matter,” the bench declared, signalling an end to a controversy that had threatened to trigger an unprecedented standoff in the higher judiciary.
CJI’s Letter Prompted Reconsideration
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had initially banned Justice Kumar from criminal case hearings over his decision to uphold a criminal summons in what was essentially a civil dispute.
However, after receiving an undated letter from CJI Gavai, the same bench agreed to revisit the issue.
“We set aside the impugned order and remanded the matter for fresh hearing in the high court,” the judges announced this morning.
The earlier decision had sparked tension, with 13 High Court judges reportedly ready to defy the Supreme Court’s directive a move that could have escalated into a rare institutional confrontation.
Remarks Against Judge Removed
In its August 4 ruling, the bench had described Justice Kumar’s order as one of the “worst and most erroneous” and had ordered him to sit only on division benches alongside senior judges until retirement.
Today, the court clarified that it never intended to embarrass or cast aspersions on the judge.
“High Courts are not separate islands… Our intention was to uphold the dignity of the judiciary,” the bench said, stressing that judicial integrity remains paramount.
Upholding Judicial Dignity
While setting aside the earlier ruling, the Supreme Court expressed hope that such disputes would not arise again.
“If the rule of law is not maintained in the court itself, that would be the end of the entire justice delivery system. Judges must work efficiently and discharge duties diligently,” the bench stated.
By reversing its decision, the Supreme Court has sought to restore calm within the judiciary and reaffirm the principles of judicial independence and institutional respect.
