Justice PV Kunhikrishnan observed that the “control” over district and subordinate courts bestowed on High Courts by virtue of Article 235 of the Constitution of India, extends to conducting disciplinary proceedings against presiding officers as well.
“In the light of Article 235 of the Constitution of India, it is declared that the control over the district court and courts subordinate thereto mentioned in Article 235 of the Constitution of India includes the power of disciplinary proceedings against the presiding officers of district court and courts subordinate thereto“, the Court said in its judgment.
In light of the particulars of the case under consideration, the Court stated that the Kerala High Court has the power to initiate disciplinary proceedings against presiding officers of courts in Lakshadweep.
“Since the district court and subordinate courts in Lakshadweep are under the supervision of the High Court of Kerala, it is declared that the High Court of Kerala has got the power to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the presiding officers of the district court and courts subordinate thereto in the Lakshadweep Islands,” the judgment stated.
Source: Barandbench
