India’s Supreme Court has slammed a Judicial Magistrate in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district for dodging a case by claiming he lost jurisdiction after missing a deadline. The magistrate from the 4th Court in Alipore simply stopped handling the matter when he couldn’t wrap it up on time.
Justices Pankaj Mithal and Prasanna B. Varale, leading the bench, called out the move in strong terms. They said the March 19, 2024, order was unacceptable. “We’re pained by how this order was passed,” the bench noted. If the judge couldn’t finish within the time limit set by the Supreme Court, he should have just asked for an extension—instead of pretending he no longer had authority over the case.
This all stems from a January 18, 2024, Supreme Court directive that ordered the magistrate to resolve the pending matter within six weeks. When that didn’t happen, a miscellaneous application led to the latest ruling.
The top court has now told the local District Judge to demand an explanation from the magistrate. He needs to explain why he thinks he’s lost jurisdiction and why he won’t move forward with the case. The judge must submit a report within one month.
The Supreme Court also instructed its registry to send a copy of the order to the right authorities for further action. Meanwhile, senior advocate Rahul Kaushik, representing the petitioners, asked for two weeks to file a response and explain the delay.
This case highlights growing concerns over judicial timelines and accountability in India’s lower courts, especially in West Bengal districts like South 24 Parganas.
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