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1992 DIGILAW 625 (ALL)

Hakeemuddin v. Incharge District Judge, Azamgarh

1992-04-25

D.S.SINHA

body1992
JUDGMENT : D.S. Sinha, J. Civil Appeal No. 343 of 1986 Mohd. Nairn and Ors. v. Hakeemuddin and Ors. is pending in the court of I Additional District Judge, Azamgarh which is, indisputably, presided over by Sri Sushil Kumar. 2. For the reasons contained in the transfer application, moved before the District Judge, Azamgarh, a true copy whereof is Annexure-4 to the affidavit filed in support of the transfer application filed in this Court, the applicants, who figure as Respondents in the aforesaid appeal, sought transfer of the appeal from the file of I Additional District Judge, Azamgarh to the file of another Additional District Judge. 3. The transfer application came up for consideration on 13th November, 1991. On which date the Court of District Judge was presided over by Sri Sushil Kumar himself in the capacity of In-charge District Judge, and he dismissed the transfer application of the applicants by the order which runs as under: This is an application for transferring the case from the court of I Additional District Judge, Azamgarh. I have heard the learned Counsel for the applicant. I do not find any substance in this application. Rejected Sd. Sushil Kumar I/C District Judge Azamgarh. 4. As the transfer application was directed against Sri Sushil Kumar himself he should have refrained from deciding the same while exercising powers of In-charge District Judge. Indeed, he was disqualified to decide the transfer application. No Judge is qualified to try a cause to which he is a party or in which he is personally interested. Sri Sushil Kumar was a party to and will be deemed to have had interest in the adjudication of the transfer application as the same was founded on allegations against him by deciding the transfer application he violated the well-established judicial norm and the legislative mandate contained in Section 38 of the Bengal, Agra & Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887 which ordains the Presiding Officer of a court not to try any suit or proceeding to which he is a party or in which he is personally interested. The order passed by the judge smacks foul and has a tinge of judicial anarchy. 5. It is unnecessary to go into the genuineness of the ground of which the applicants sought the transfer of the appeal. The order passed by the judge smacks foul and has a tinge of judicial anarchy. 5. It is unnecessary to go into the genuineness of the ground of which the applicants sought the transfer of the appeal. The fact that the transfer application, which was directed against Sri Sushil Kumar, presiding over the court of I Additional District Judge, Azamgarh was disposed of by Sri Sushil Kumar himself in the capacity of In-charge District Judge, Azamgarh is more than enough to create a reasonable apprehension in the mind of the applicants that they may not receive fair justice in the appeal from the court of I Additional District Judge, Presided by Sri Sushil Kumar and makes out a case for interference by this Court in exercise of its power u/s 24 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908. 6. For the reasons stated above, it appears appropriate and expedient in the interest or justice to transfer the appeal from the file of I Additional District Judge, Azamgarh presided by Sri Sushil Kumar. The transfer application is, therefore, allowed. The appeal no 343 of 1986, Mohd. Nairn and Ors. v. Hakeemuddin and Ors. aforesaid is transferred to the file of such other Additional District Judge as may be nominated by the District Judge, Azamgarh. Further, the Registrar of the Court is directed to place a copy of this judgment before the Hon'ble Administrative Judge concerned.