Uttar Pradesh High Court's Landmark Decision: Vindication for Pradeep Kumar

The Allahabad High Court ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to appoint Pradeep Kumar as an additional district judge. Kumar had faced espionage and sedition trials but was acquitted. Despite his success in the judicial exam, he faced appointment delays. The court's directive mandates a prompt appointment by January 2025.

In a significant ruling, the Allahabad High Court has instructed the Uttar Pradesh government to appoint Pradeep Kumar as an additional district judge despite earlier denials due to his previous involvement in espionage and sedition trials. The court emphasized that Kumar was fully acquitted in both cases.

The directive, issued by a bench of Justices Saumitra Dayal Singh and Donadi Ramesh, mandates that Kumar must receive his appointment letter by January 15, 2025. Kumar successfully passed the UP Higher Judicial Service examination in 2017, yet he faced prolonged delays in his appointment.

The court underscored the principle of presumption of innocence and concluded that Kumar's honorable acquittal should not stand in the way of his career progression. Authorities are required to conduct a character verification promptly to facilitate his appointment.

(With inputs from agencies.)