Institute of Legal and Management Studies

In a significant ruling today, the Supreme Court of India allowed the appeal filed by a former judicial magistrate from Rajasthan, who was dismissed from service over allegations of concealment of employment and academic impropriety.

The bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and SC Sharma set aside the High Court's Full Court decision to terminate the Appellant from the judicial service in 2020, ordering her reinstatement to the service with the notional fixation of pay, except the backwages.

"It is further clarified that the respondent(High Court) shall take the appellant as to have successfully completed her probation period, and the appellant shall be treated as a confirmed employee.", the court directed.

The Appellant, Ms. Pinky Meena, was initially appointed as a Teacher Grade-II in the Education Department of the Government of Rajasthan on December 30, 2014. While serving in this role, she applied for the post of Civil Judge (Junior Division) pursuant to an advertisement dated November 18, 2017. She was declared successful on November 4, 2018, and subsequently appointed as a Civil Judge and judicial Magistrate on February 11, 2019.

In February 2020, the Registrar (Vigilance) issued a show-cause notice to the Appellant, alleging that she failed to disclose her prior government teaching job in her RJS application and had pursued B.Ed. and LL.B. degrees simultaneously, contrary to university rules. It was also claimed she completed an LL.M. as a regular student while working.

The Appellant defended herself, stating she resigned from teaching before joining the judiciary due to illness and discontinued her B.Ed. once she learnt of the rules. Nonetheless, the Rajasthan High Court's Full Bench terminated her service in May 2020, prompting her to approach the Supreme Court.

Case Title: Pinky Meena v. The High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan at Jodhpur & Anr., SLP(C) No. 23529/2023

Click Here To Read/Download Judgment