Delhi HC sacks probationary judge

Four days before he was set to become a permanent judge of a trial court, the services of a judicial officer have been terminated by the Delhi High Court.
The decision to terminate the service of the judicial officer, who was on probation since July 2016, was taken by a full court of the High Court on August 10, Registrar General (RG) Dinesh Kumar Sharma said today.
He said since the officer was on probation, no reasons were required to be given for terminating his services.
Under Rule 22 of the Delhi Judicial Service Rules 1970, the services of a person on probation are liable to be terminated without assigning any reason, the Registrar General said.

According to the Registrar General, a full court of the High Court took the decision to terminate service of Nitesh Gupta, which was approved by the Lieutenant Governor (LG) Anil Baijal on the same day.
The decision was then communicated to the District Judge of Patiala House court, where Gupta was undergoing training, for necessary action, the RG told PTI.

Gupta did not respond to repeated messages and phone calls by PTI.
The High Court on July 28 had passed an order posting and transferring 70 DJS officers, including Gupta.
He was slated to take charge as a Metropolitan Magistrate in Tis Hazari court from August 14 to hear cases pertaining to the Negotiable Instruments Act.

The Delhi High Court had recently compulsorily retired an additional sessions judge over allegations of graft that surfaced in a complaint lodged by the Enforcement Directorate.
When a judge of the lower judiciary is 58 years of age, the high court reviews his or her performance and decides whether he or she deserves to serve for another two years.