Magistrates, Judge Not Above Law, Must Face Consequence For...: High Court

"This should be a lesson to all," Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said while directing the Administrator of Lakshadweep to place the former CJM, presently Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority in Lakshadweep, under suspension during pendency of the disciplinary proceedings against him.

Magistrates, judges and other presiding officers are not above the law and they have to face consequences for dereliction of duty, the Kerala High Court said on Friday while ordering suspension of a former Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) of Lakshadweep for allegedly forging evidence in a criminal trial to convict an accused.

"This should be a lesson to all," Justice PV Kunhikrishnan said while directing the Administrator of the Union Territory of Lakshadweep to place the former CJM, presently the Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority in the island archipelago, under suspension during pendency of the disciplinary proceedings against him.

"In the facts and circumstances of this case, this court has to conclude prima facie that the additional 3rd respondent (former CJM) committed forgery by creating the evidence of PW7 (one of the witnesses in the criminal case)... Prima facie, I am of the opinion that the additional 3rd respondent committed serious misconduct and dereliction of duty," the high court said.

"The Administrator, Union Territory of Lakshadweep is directed to place the additional 3rd respondent under suspension forthwith and conduct a detailed enquiry about his actions mentioned in this order forthwith and take appropriate steps in accordance with law, untrammelled by any observation in this judgement," it stated.