Delhi High Court redeems itself before Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India had yesterday rebuked the Delhi High Court for failing to render adequate assistance in a case relating to the grading of a judge of the lower judiciary..The hearings over a similar petition listed today, however, was relatively uneventful since the High Court’s counsel were able to produce records to the satisfaction of the apex court. A Registrar of the High Court was also present in court today, as had been directed by the Bench of Ranjan Gogoi and PC Pant JJ..The case which was heard today was also a challenge to the grading given to a judge of the lower judiciary. The Delhi High Court had decided to give the officer in question a “C” rating; this was challenged by the judge in a writ petition before the Supreme Court..When the matter came up for hearing today, the High Court produced records including details of the complaints against the judge and the grading given to her during the previous years, which all formed a basis for the full court decision..Justices Ranjan Gogoi and PC Pant, however, allowed the petition and quashed the grading. The top court also ordered that all consequential benefits which were to accrue to the judge but for the bad grading should be allowed to her..Senior counsel Mariarputham appeared for the Delhi High Court. Towards the end of the arguments, the senior counsel made a reference to the court’s remarks made yesterday..To which Justice Gogoi replied,.“If the records which were produced today were produced yesterday, we would not have had the occasion to make such observations..Right now we have not asked for any report from the Chief Justice but only requested him to look into the issue..But if on some other occasion, the High Court does not perform well, we will certainly remember yesterday’s order.”