A bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana ruled that the former judicial officer’s plea for a priority hearing in the Allahabad High Court would be denied. The decision, delivered Thursday, underscored the principle that all litigants, regardless of status, must be treated equally. The ruling came after the petitioner had challenged the termination of his service in a separate petition.
The petitioner, whose service was terminated earlier this year, had filed a petition with the High Court seeking expedited adjudication. Counsel argued that the court’s heavy docket had left his case unresolved, citing an estimated backlog of 3,000 pending appeals.
The Supreme Court said that granting priority would unbalance the court’s workload and unfairly disadvantage other litigants awaiting judgment. Justice Bagchi noted—'the court would not create individualistic interventions'—highlighting the judiciary’s commitment to equality. The bench warned that such a move would erode the very fabric of impartial justice.
The petitioner is now directed to submit a fresh application within the regular schedule of the High Court. The court will not intervene further, leaving the petitioner to navigate the standard appellate process.