Madhya Pradesh High Court Reinstates Four Female Judges

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has reinstated four female civil judges who were previously terminated due to alleged unsatisfactory performance. The Supreme Court was informed of this decision, which was made following a suo motu case. The reinstated judges will be on probation for one year without back wages.

Four women civil judges have been reinstated by the Madhya Pradesh High Court after being terminated for alleged unsatisfactory performance. On Tuesday, the Madhya Pradesh High Court registry informed the Supreme Court of this decision.

In January, the Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the termination of six women civil judges by the Madhya Pradesh government. The top court had issued notices to the state government and the high court registry, seeking responses from the dismissed judicial officers.

A bench, including Justices B V Nagarathna and N Kotiswar Singh, was notified that the full court meeting of the high court decided to reinstate four judges as civil judges (junior division) on probation for one year without back wages. The court applauded the high court and lawyers for their efforts and closed the suo motu case.

The reinstated judges are Jyoti Varkhade, Sonakshi Joshi, Priya Sharma, and Rachna Atulkaar Joshi. However, the termination of two other judges remains unchanged, with reasons filed in a sealed cover. The initial termination orders were issued in June 2023 after their performance during the probation period was deemed unsatisfactory by the state law department.

(With inputs from agencies.)