Prayagraj
A group of Judges of the Allahabad High Court has urged Chief Justice Arun Bhansali to call a full court meeting (Full Court Meeting) on the recent order of the Supreme Court targeting Justice Prashant Kumar.
In this letter written by Justice Arindam Sinha, the order passed by the Supreme Court on August 4, 2025 has been regretted. The letter has been signed by seven judges.
In its decision on August 4, the Supreme Court made serious remarks about Justice Kumar’s judicial argument and directed the High Court administration to remove him from criminal roster. At the same time, the Supreme Court had also asked Justice Prashant Kumar to be kept in a bench with a senior judge till his retirement. These instructions Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R.K. Mahadevan’s bench gave a petition filed by ‘Messrs Shikhar Chemicals’. The company had moved the Supreme Court requesting the cancellation of the criminal trial launched over a commercial dispute.
Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had rejected the company’s petition. Justice Prashant Kumar had said that it would be “very inappropriate” to force the complainant for civil measures and may be allowed to prosecute criminal prosecution for recovery of arrears.
The Supreme Court overturned the argument, saying, “We are surprised at the argument given in para 12 of this order… The judges even said that it would be very unfair to ask the complainant to prosecute a civil suit because it takes a long time in civil cases, so the complainant can be allowed to file a criminal case for recovery of arrears.” Finding this approach “unstable”, the Supreme Court sidelined the High Court order and directed that the matter be heard renewed by another judge.
