PHC demotes judge for contracting secret marriage with Civil Judge

PESHAWAR: The Registrar of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) has demoted a district and sessions judge for three years to additional judge for contracting secret marriage with Civil Judge on Thursday.

A notification issued by the register said that Judge Sajjad Ahmad Jan has been held guilty of misconduct and imposed on him the major penalty of demotion to the post of Additional District & Sessions Judge, for three years. The notification added that Sajjad Ahmad Jan, District & Sessions Judge (under suspension), was served with show-cause notice wherein charges against him were intimated with the directions to submit reply within 07 days.

The notification issued on behalf of the PHC’s registrar said that his reply was received on July 3, 2019, and was personally heard on July 15, 2019. However, I could nOt furnish satisfactory response after it was established that the accused/officer contracted secret marriage with Civil Judge and kept it secret till compelled to disclose by a hype created. Therefore, this act and conduct is prejudicial to good order, service discipline and unbecoming of Government Servant and a gentleman.

“The Competent Authority has been pleased to hold him guilty of misconduct and impose on him the major penalty of demotion to the post of Additional District & Sessions Judge, for three years,” said the notifications available with TNN.

The action has been taken under the rule-4 (1) (b) of KP Government Servants (Efficiency & Discipline) Rules, 2011, with immediate effect. After three years, when the accused judge is restored to the original post, the accused/officer shall be placed below his erstwhile juniors promoted to higher post during the subsistence of the period of penalty.

On July 16, the PHC has also removed two civil judges from their services over their alleged involvement in corruption and misuse of authority. The notification issued in this regard said that the order of their removal was issued on the direction of Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth after an enquiry was conducted against them.