Judicial officers must adhere to strict procedural standards; failure to do so, especially involving allegations of forgery, necessitates disciplinary action and jeopardizes public trust.

JUDGMENT

This is a strange case in which serious allegation of forgery is alleged against the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amini Island. It is alleged that some of the accused in a criminal case pending in that court filed a complaint before the administrative side of this Court against the conduct of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amini, who is also acting as the Sub Judge, in the trial of their civil case. Aggrieved by the same, the Chief Judicial Magistrate forged the evidence of an Investigating officer and convicted the accused in the absence of the accused and issued warrant to them is the allegation. The learned Magistrate sentenced the accused person to undergo a sentence of 4½ years under different sections of Indian Penal Code and directed them to serve the sentence separately with a malafide intention to put the accused behind bars is the further allegation.

2. If the allegation against the Chief Judicial Magistrate is true, it is unfortunate and unheard of. The immense faith of the citizens of this country in the Indian Judiciary itself is the backbone of our judicial system. So, the judicial officers should be above board. But of course, there may be criticism against judicial officers and that is only because of the immense faith of the people in this system. Fair criticisms will undoubtedly improve the system. The judicial officers however, need not respond to those criticisms, but they should concentrate on their commitment to the system and prove their integrity and fair play while decision making. The pen of a judicial officer is powerful, but it should be used with great caution, of course without fear and favour. The famous Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, and philosopher, Marcus Tullius observed that "The magistrates are the ministers for the laws, the judges their interpreters, the rest of us are servants of the law, ………………..". If the allegation raised by the petitioners/accused against the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Amini is true, the said Magistrate is not fit to continue in any position, for a second.

3. The short facts of the case are like this: Petitioners in OP(Crl.) No.608/2022 are the accused Nos.1 to 15 in C.C.No.24/2016 on the file of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Amini. The above case is charge sheeted against the petitioners alleging offences punishable under Sections 143, 147, 188, 186 and 353 r/w Section 149 IPC.

4. The prosecution allegation is that a, a contractor by the name V.K.Dawood who was engaged in plucking coconut from the Government land requested the Deputy Collector/ Sub Divisional Magistrate, Agatti for seeking police assistance for plucking coconut on the southern side of Panchayath stage in Ward No.7 Agatti Island. The Deputy Collector/Sub Divisional Magistrate, Agatti issued an order directing the Amin, Agatti and Deputy Surveyor, Agatti to supervise the aforesaid work of plucking the coconut with police assistance. It is further alleged that when the Amin, Deputy Surveyor and the contractor was supervising the plucking of coconut, a mob of around 40 persons led by the 1st and 2nd accused formed into an unlawful assembly with an intention of rioting, obstructed the Amin, Surveyor, contractor and the coconut climbers. It is also alleged that, they forcefully took the coconuts plucked and obstructed their duty. Hence crime No.6/2015 of Agatti Police Station was registered which was investigated and final report was submitted before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Amini. The learned Magistrate took cognizance of the offence and numbered the case as C.C.N