Two CJMs, including Raju, ticked off from promotion list

In a setback to N V Raju, chief judicial magistrate of Kasaragode, who is facing disciplinary proceedings in the multi-crore solar scam, the Kerala High Court has decided not to promote him as district judge.
Raju, whose name figured in the list of 14 CJMs and four sub-judges, who were to be promoted as district judges, was denied promotion by the High Court Registry.
Earlier, the court had issued a memo of charges to Raju for alleged 'procedural lapses' in recording the statements of Saritha S Nair, prime accused in the solar scam, when he was Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Economic offences) court in Ernakulam.

Of the names in the list, except that of Raju and Waynad CJM Krishnan, all others have been recommended for promotion, a High Court Registry order said.
Raju today appeared before the Justice Sivarajan Commission, probing the multi-crore scam, to depose in the case.
Last week, in an administrative order, the High Court Registrar had ordered Raju to file his reply on the memo of charges within 15 days.
The High Court Vigilance Wing had conducted a preliminary inquiry into the alleged lapses of Raju on complaints that he had rejected Saritha's request to record her statement when she was produced before him on July 20, 2013.

The solar scam relates to duping of several persons by the two prime accused -- Saritha and Biju Radhakrishnan -- after promising solar power panels for them.