Corruption allegations against Allahabad HC judge: SC asks for consolidated list

In the petition alleging corruption on the part of newly appointed Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court RK Gautam, the Supreme Court has asked for a consolidated list of charges and allegations..The Bench of Justices AK Sikri and S Abdul Nazeer has decided to take up the matter post the winter break, and has sought a list of the allegations from Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, who is appearing for the petitioners..The petition filed by Progressive Lawyers Association Civil Court alleges misconduct and corruption on the part of Gautam J. He was a District Judge in Meerut in 2015-16, when a complaint was made against him by the petitioner before then Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court DY Chandrachud. .The complaint had made several allegations against Gautam J. including his alleged involvement in a racket to secure acquittals for heinous crimes, his close proximity to persons accused of grave crimes like rape and kidnapping, his alleged failure to report corruption to the High Court, etc..Upon receipt of this complaint, Chandrachud J had ordered a discreet Vigilance Inquiry into these allegations. The inquiry was conducted by OSD Vigilance, Anil Kumar Shrivastav. Pending the inquiry, Chandrachud J was elevated to the Supreme Court, following which, the petitioner claims, Shrivastav colluded with Gautam J and gave him a clean chit in his inquiry report..This report was challenged on the judicial side. The Allahabad High Court dismissed the same, on the ground that the complaint was not supported by an affidavit. The report was then challenged before the Supreme Court. However, while these proceedings were pending, Gautam J. was recommended for elevation to the High Court by the Supreme Court Collegium..The petitioner had even sent a communication in this regard to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind, wherein it was stated,.“Hon’ble Supreme Court has been kept in dark and full true facts have not been placed and consequently Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Collegium has also cleared the name of Mr. Ram Krishna Gautam.”.The instant petition had initially came up before the Supreme Court in the last week of November, shortly before Justice Gautam was due to take his oath of office as an Additional Judge of the Allahabad High Court..An urgent mentioning of the case was made before the Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on November 22, in view of the oath-swearing ceremony that was due to take place the same day..However, Justice Madan B Lokur, who was part of the Bench before which it was posted thereafter, recused from the case. Justice Lokur is also a member of the Supreme Court Collegium that passed the resolution to recommend RK Gautam J. as an Additional Judge. The appointment of Gautam J was subsequently notified by the Central government on October 8, 2018..Read the order below.