HC issues fresh notice to Judge Anuja Prabhudesai

HC issues fresh notice to Judge Anuja Prabhudesai
Court rejects registrar’s report absolving her of charges
TEAM HERALD
PANJIM, FEB 12: In yet another turn to the Anuja Prabhudesai case, the special disciplinary committee of judges of the Bombay High Court, has issued a fresh show cause notice to Additional District and Sessions Judge Anuja Prabhudesai, according to highly placed legal sources
These notices were issued after discussing the report of the enquiry officer –the registrar of the Bombay High court Ms I.K. Jain –which had absolved her of all the charges. The same was placed before the special disciplinary committee comprising chief justice of the Bombay High Court and other judges
The committee of judges has rejected the findings of its own inquiry officer and called upon Prabhudessai to show cause as to why she should not be held guilty of the charges levelled against her.
She has been issued a notice along with a copy of the inquiry report to the judicial officer indicating the grounds on which the findings recorded by the enquiry officer in her favour are not acceptable.
Prabhudesai, additional district and sessions judge and presiding officer, Industrial Tribunal and Labour Court, was earlier suspended facing charge that she had conducted herself in a manner unbecoming of a government servant viz. a judicial officer and there by committed breach of Rule(3)(iii) of the Central Civil Services(Conduct)Rules ,1964 amounting to misconduct. She was recently reinstated.
When contacted, Convenor of Goa Peoples’ Forum Satish Sonak, lawyer, said that the information is “likely to be correct”.
Sonak said it’s important to get to know the full truth including the full report of the registrar of the High court in favour of Prabbhudesai and the subsequent surprising development of the same High court rejecting the registrar’s report absolving her of all charges.
The issue of. Prabhudesai’s disciplinary proceedings has assumed significance in the wake of the latest case of suspension of Additional Sessions Judge Desmond D’Costa early this week which has invited strong agitation and protests from lawyers and other citizens. After  Prabhudesai was suspended there was a silent but strong public reaction to the suspension. In the latest case, the lawyers have come out in the open questioning the suspension and demanding reinstatement.
The developments in the Prabhudesai case are also expected to figure in the citizens’ meeting scheduled in the city on Monday to protest the suspension of  D’Costa, sources in local citizens’ groups told Herald.