Judicial officer suspended for allegedly outraging modesty of woman court employee

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M. Suhaib, the Additional District Judge, Kozhikode, who is facing the allegation of outraging the modesty of a woman court employee in his official chamber in the court complex, was suspended from service.

An emergency meeting of the Administrative Committee of the Kerala High Court, headed by Chief Justice Nitin Madhukar Jamdar, took the decision on Wednesday (December 25, 2024) after assessing that the alleged incident has dented the credibility of the judicial institution of the State. The committee took a serious view of the allegation involving a serving judicial officer, which reportedly took place inside the official chamber of the judicial officer, according to highly placed sources.

The committee on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) sought a report from the Principal District Judge of Kozhikode, before whom the judicial officer had tendered an oral apology to the woman employee. The committee took note of the developments on the day including the reported oral statements of the woman made before the Principal District Judge.

Though the developments including the oral submissions of the woman would reveal the commission of the act of outraging the modesty of a woman, the legal proceedings including the registration of a crime, may be hampered by the reluctance of the woman to file a written complaint. The woman insisted on not to proceed with the case and even refused to give a written statement. Since the individual, who has reportedly suffered an injury following the act of the judicial officer, insisted not to proceed with the criminal case, the High Court was left with not many legal options, sources maintained.

However, the officer will be issued a show cause to explain why action should not be initiated against him for tarnishing the image of the judiciary.

The reluctance of the woman to press the complaint may even prevent the Internal Complaints Committee at the Kozhikode Court complex from legally proceeding in the case or extending her the required legal and other support. On its part, the High Court will act to arrest the erosion of the credibility of the judiciary, sources indicated.

The Hindu reported on Tuesday (December 24, 2024) that an emergency meeting of the committee was held online to discuss the issue. This was the second meeting of the committee on Wednesday (December 25, 2024) in two days as the alleged incident had shocked the legal and judicial fraternity alike.