Supreme Court transfers hit-and-run accident case trial involving judicial officer from Punjab to Delhi

The Supreme Court order came on a plea by the victim's wife, who raised apprehension that she may not get a fair trial as the official is posted as a probationer in Punjab.

The order came on a plea by the wife of the victim, who raised apprehension that she may not get a fair trial as the official is posted as a probationer in Punjab. (File photo)

The Supreme Court Thursday transferred the trial in a hit-and-run case allegedly involving a serving judicial magistrate from Punjab to Delhi.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi shifted the trial currently pending before the Magistrate court in Phagwara to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Rohini Courts, Delhi.

The order came on a plea by the wife of the victim, who raised apprehension that she may not get a fair trial as the official is posted as a probationer in Punjab.

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The counsel for the judicial officer said his client had no objection to transferring it to Delhi but requested that it be shifted to Noida, as the victim’s kin practises in Delhi and he may face problems from the Bar.

But the bench did not agree, and the counsel urged that it be moved to the Rohini court, as it would be easier for him to travel. The court agreed to this.

It also shifted a case filed by the petitioner claiming compensation in Himachal Pradesh to Delhi.

The petitioner had also sought transfer of the investigation from the Punjab Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), but the court disposed of it by asking her to approach the CMM Court, Delhi, to which it transferred the case, for any further relief.

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Issuing a notice in the matter on September 26, the Supreme Court stayed the proceedings before the Phagwara court, where they are pending for the framing of charges.