Delhi High Court transfers case involving Sajjan to another court

The Delhi high court on Monday transferred a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, involving Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, from one trial court to another “in view of the controversy generated” over allegations that the evidence was not being properly recorded.

Transferring the case from Karkardooma court to Patiala House court, Justice Siddharth Mridul made it clear that the transfer was “warranted to protect and uphold the dignity of the judicial system and to promote the faith of citizens in courts of law.”

The judge said, “It is my considered view that it would be necessary and ex-pedient so to do in interest of justice and in view of the controversy generated in the present case to transfer it to another criminal court of equal jurisdiction.”

The district and sessions judge at Patiala House court was also requested by the high court to video- record the proceedings at the cost of the parties in the case, the petitioner and CBI.

The order was being passed “with the consent of the parties appearing before it,” that included the petitioner Joginder Singh and the CBI, the court said. The “order has been occasioned in interest of justice and with consent of parties before us,” the judge added.

The high court order said, “The direction proposed to be issued are with the view to render judicial officers immune from controversy and to protect their haloed reputation.”

“It is, therefore, reiterated that the present order is not a comment on conduct of judicial officer hearing the present case, save and except to reaffirm the faith that the public reposes in that judicial officer.”

“In view of the foregoing, the case pending before the Karkardooma court is transferred to district and sessions judge, Patiala House court, forthwith.”

The court directed the “parties and their counsel” to appear before the district and sessions judge, Patiala House court, on December 8, the next date of hearing.

It also directed the district and sessions judge of Karkardooma court to transmit the case materials to Patiala House court before the next date. Mr Joginder Singh in his plea had sought transfer of the case to another court.