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KEY TAKEAWAYS
The case in reference is Sabina Yusuf Lakdawala v. State of Maharashtra & Ors
(High Court of Judicature at Bombay)
The matter is still pending in court hence, the ruling in this instance is not yet final.
Should judges be granted full immunity if justice is purposefully denied?
The Judges Protection Act, Articles 226 and 227 of the Indian Constitution, Section
197 of the Criminal Procedure Code and Section 77 of Indian Penal Code all play key
roles in cases of judicial immunity.
To comprehend the idea of judicial immunity with the help of precedent cases such
as Veeraswamy v. Union of India and Stump V. Sparkman which are explained in
brief.
There are few exceptions to judicial immunity that are discussed.
INRODUCTION
Sabina Lakdawala has filed a suit at the Bombay High Court challenging the judges'
"absolute immunity" from civil and criminal actions, as established by the Judges Protection
Act, 1985. No court can hear civil or criminal actions against a judge for acts or words said
while exercising his duties as a judge according to Section 3 of the Act. A judge on the other
hand, might face civil, criminal, or departmental action from the central or state governments,
the Supreme Court of India, or a High Court. Sabina Lakdawala, the petitioner, is the former
wife of builder Yusuf Lakdawala, who died in jail from a serious illness. She seeks that the
section be struck down or read down such that immunity is restricted to cases where the judge
does not behave maliciously and intentionally deny justice in the writ petition filed under
Articles 226, 227.
BACKGROUND
After the petitioner i.e. Sabina Yusuf Lakdawala’s husband died, she filed a DV complaint
against her in-laws in the 12th Bandra Metropolitan Magistrates court on October 23, 2021.
On October 30, 2021 the case was addressed and ex-parte reliefs were granted. The
Magistrate on the other hand, took Diwali leave on the same day without issuing an order.
She asserted that she had acquired from reputable sources that the Magistrate would postpone
the case. She subsequently went to the Bombay High Court which ordered the Magistrate to
rule on her petition.
Following that, the in-laws were asked to file a counter-affidavit. Despite no arguments being
offered by her in-laws' counsels, she was denied relief, according to her petition. The judge
further requested that the case be adjourned until March 20, 2022, with the hearing being
rescheduled for December 22, 2021.
The petitioner claims that she had filed submissions with the President of India, Vice
President, Chief Justice of India, and others before coming to the High Court. She claimed in
the petition filed through Nedumbara (Petitioner’s Advocate) that the High Court has
supervisory authority over lower courts.
The Magistrate, Department of Law and Justice, Maharashtra Public Service Commissioner,
and the Registrar, High Court are among the respondents to the petition.
This case is currently being benched by Hon’ble Shri Justice S.J. Kathawalla and Hon’ble
Shri Justice Surendra P. Tavade.
Advocates from Petitioner/Plaintiff/Appellant- Mr.Mathew Nedumpara a/w. Ms.Maria
Nedumpara. Advocates for Respondent/Defendant- Mr.Asadali Mazgaonwala i/b. Kartikeya
and Associates
CONCLUSION
The law pertaining to immunity in English common law and Indian law differs significantly.
In several English instances, judges were awarded immunity when their conduct were
careless. The Indian judiciary, on the other hand, does not grant protection to a careless judge
operating with good intentions. This appears to be more rational, given that a ruling might
restrict a person's mobility for any fair reason, as in many of the circumstances stated above.
As a result, if a judge behaves irresponsibly or in violation of natural justice principles, he
should be held accountable. According to the Constitution, the judiciary is one of the major
foundations of parliamentary democracy. All immunities required to enable judges to act
fearlessly and impartially in the exercise of their judicial duties must be provided. Judges will
find it difficult to operate if their conduct in court are subject to legal action, whether civil or
criminal. In India, the certainty of judicial and quasi-judicial officials' responsibility is
determined by the facts of each case, and no rigid formula may be followed.