Service Law – Judicial officer – observations by High Court

The appellant before us is the District and Sessions Judge, North Goa at Panaji-Goa. For certain acts 
and omissions said to have been committed by her, the learned Single Judge of the High Court had
initiated proceedings for civil contempt by issuing notice dated 15.06.2006. Vide order dated 17.07.2006, 
the learned Single Judge had discharged the contempt proceedings and directed the Registrar General of 
the High Court to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the appellant.

The observations so made by the Court in the course of its judgment and order, in our considered view 
would cast a shadow on the judicial career of the appellant, which, in our opinion, should not be
jeopardized especially at this crucial juncture of her professional development as a judicial officer. The 
career of a bright judicial officer must not, therefore, be imperiled such that her further growth is stunted.                                                                                                                            

Therefore, without going into the details and finer  aspects of the case at hand, we intend to set aside
certain observations made by the High Court which would affect the career of the appellant.

We further direct that the remarks contained in the letter dated
20.10.2008 stands deleted and the related Annual Confidential Reports be amended accordingly


Anuja Prabhudessai Vs. State of Goa 

2013 STPL(Web) 47 SC 
SUPREME COURT OF INDIA 
(H.L. DATTU AND RANJAN GOGOI, JJ.)
-Decided on 9-1-2013. 



2. This appeal by special leave is directed against the judgment and order passed by the High Court of
Judicature of Bombay at Goa in Contempt Appeal No.1 of 2006, dated 24.08.2007. By the impugned
judgment and order, the High Court has dismissed the  appeal filed by the appellant and confirmed the
order passed by the learned Single Judge of High Court in Criminal Writ Petition No. 1 of 2006, dated
17.07.2006, wherein certain observations were made while discharging the contempt notice issued to the
appellant.
3. The appellant before us is the District and Sessions Judge, North Goa at Panaji-Goa. For certain acts
and omissions said to have been committed by her, the learned Single Judge of the High Court had
initiated proceedings for civil contempt by issuing notice dated 15.06.2006. Vide order dated 17.07.2006,
the learned Single Judge had discharged the contempt proceedings and directed the Registrar General of
the High Court to initiate appropriate disciplinary proceedings against the appellant.
4. The aforesaid direction was issued after discharge of the contempt proceedings. The same was
questioned by the appellant before the Division Bench of the High Court in Contempt Appeal No.1 of
2006. The Division Bench by impugned judgment and order concurred with the observations made by the
learned Single Judge and further clarified that the said directions issued imply that the Registrar General
of the High Court must seek appropriate directions from the competent authority in respect of any
disciplinary proceedings required to be initiated against the appellant and that the order did not disclose
any aspect regarding finality of disciplinary proceedings.
5. We have heard the learned counsel for the parties to the lis at length.
6. The observations so made by the Court in the course of its judgment and order, in our considered view
would cast a shadow on the judicial career of the appellant, which, in our opinion, should not be
jeopardized especially at this crucial juncture of her professional development as a judicial officer. The
career of a bright judicial officer must not, therefore, be imperiled such that her further growth is stunted.2013 STPL(Web) 47 SC                                                                                                                                2
Anuja Prabhudessai Vs. State of Goa
Supreme Court Judgements @ www.stpl-india.in
Therefore, without going into the details and finer  aspects of the case at hand, we intend to set aside
certain observations made by the High Court which would affect the career of the appellant.
7. Accordingly, we allow this appeal and set aside the impugned judgment and order in Contempt Appeal
No. 1 of 2006 dated 24.08.2007 and the impugned judgment and order in Criminal Writ Petition No. 1 of
2006 dated 17.07.2006 and the communication of the Registrar General of the High Court dated
20.10.2008. We clarify that we have not disturbed the order passed by the High Court discharging the
contempt proceedings initiated against the appellant
Ordered accordingly.
W.P.(C)No.53/2009:
In view of the foregoing order passed in the Civil Appeal@ Special Leave Petition (C) No. 4100 of 2009,
this Writ Petition is also disposed of. We further direct that the remarks contained in the letter dated
20.10.2008 stands deleted and the related Annual Confidential Reports be amended accordingly.
Ordered accordingly.
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