HC recalls framing of charges order against Court staff accused of badmouthing Judiciary

On Thursday, the High Court of Punjab & Haryana recalled an order that framed charges against a Mansa court employee, Harmeet Singh, for allegedly scandalizing the Judiciary by posting videos criticising Judges on social networking site, YouTube.

While recalling the order passed on Wednesday, the bench of Justice Jaswant Singh & Justice Sant Prakash said the order was passed presuming that Singh would be present & the charge-sheet would be read over to him. However, due to the Coronavirus outbreak, his presence or the lawyers’ presence could not be ensured. “Inadvertently, the aforesaid charge was framed & it was ordered to be read over & explained, but the requirement of the law is that the charge should be read over & explained to the respondent in person,” the bench recorded, adding that ‘mistake’ took place due to hearing being conducted through video conferencing.

It added that to impart fair & substantial justice, Harmeet Singh needed to be given an opportunity of hearing. The matter stands adjourned for Sept 24.

Harmeet Singh, a clerk is accused of making a page ‘Ugly face of Indian Judiciary, Ludhiana’ & uploading videos lambasting judicial officers by levelling ‘false allegations & conveying wrong message’ to the public. He is also accused of scandalizing the names of sitting judges including that of the high court, by concocting stories of corruption, bribery & nepotism. The Court had termed his act as an “attack on the judges”.

According to the reference sent to the HC for taking action against him under Contempt of Courts Act, Singh joined in 2009 as a clerk at district & sessions division Ludhiana. He was posted at Jagraon, but he kept pressuring him to transfer him back to Ludhiana. Later, he was transferred to Mansa. This posting was not of his liking & thus he started filing RTIs & opened an account on YouTube, criticising the Judges & making allegations against them, the reference says.

The contempt proceedings were initiated in 2013 & in 2016 he also faced stoppage of four annual grade increments for his conduct.

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