Compulsory retirement for Punjab judge who delivered Kathua rape case verdict

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has recommended the compulsory retirement of District and Sessions Judge Tejwinder Singh, ostensibly for building a house without the mandatory permissions. Once the youngest magistrate in the country, Tejwinder Singh had as District and Sessions Judge, Pathankot, in 2019 convicted six of the seven accused in what became known as the Kathua rape and murder case that involved brutality against an eight-year-old girl in January 2018, sparking outrage.

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The High Court has also recommended the dismissal of Haryana Additional District and Sessions Judge RK Jain. The action comes after the High Court’s vigilance wing conducted a probe into complaints against Jain.

Information suggests that the proceedings against Tejwinder Singh were initiated following an administrative note by the then inspecting judge of Pathankot Sessions Division, Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal.

Was youngest magistrate

Tejwinder Singh joined the Punjab Judicial Services in 1991 at the age of 23 and figured in the 1993 edition of the Limca Book of Records as India’s youngest magistrate.

Tejwinder Singh had joined the Punjab Judicial Services in 1991 at the age of 23 and figured in the 1993 edition of the Limca Book of Records as India’s youngest magistrate.

Over the past two years, the HC has moved against more than two dozen judicial officers, sending out a strong message of internal accountability.

In the past 10 months alone, after Justice Sheel Nagu assumed charge as Chief Justice, the HC has initiated action against nine judicial officers — three from Punjab and six from Haryana — underscoring its policy of zero tolerance towards impropriety in the subordinate judiciary.

While two of the Punjab officers have been dismissed from service, one has been placed under suspension. Similarly, two judicial officers from Haryana have been dismissed from service, four others have been placed under suspension.

The decisions have been taken following deliberations in full court meetings — administrative sittings attended by all judges of the HC — convened to decide on key matters relating to the subordinate judiciary, including appointments, postings, transfers, promotions, and disciplinary action.